Bramley Iron Mums show mettle (From This is Hampshire)

Bramley Iron Mums show mettle

3:00pm Saturday 8th September 2012 in News By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

Buy this photo » The fourth annual Iron Mums event in Tadley

MUMS put their fitness to the test in the fourth Bramley Iron Mums competition.

Set up by two mums wanting to get fit, the series of fitness sessions culminated in a triathlon held last Saturday at Clift Meadow.

Participants took part in one of two races – Buns of Steel or Abs of Iron.

The former involved a 3km run, 6km cycle and 1km sprint finish. The latter was more challenging with a 6km run, 12km cycle and 1km sprint finish.

Alison Jones, one of the mums who founded the event, said: “The free weekly training sessions from March are for people with different levels of fitness. They come together to get fitter, make friends and exercise.”

When the mother-of-two set up Bramley Iron Mums, she was new to exercise herself, but has since completed two marathons.

The 43-year-old said: “Most people who come along start having done no exercise. We build up to a 10km run which is a substantial achievement.”

Crowds cheered as the women crossed the finish line.

Sharon Boyd was first in the Buns of Steel category. The 39-year-old mother-of-two, from Basingstoke, said: “This is the first time I have taken part. I’m nearing 40 and I thought it’s about time I did some sort of race. I wasn’t expecting to win but I’m really pleased.”

Stacy Quelch, a 32-year-old mother-of-four, from Bramley, took second place and said: “I wanted to lose my baby weight. I fractured my hip when I was pregnant so needed to do something to help with that. I have never done anything like this before.”

Seventy-four women took part in the races, which is the largest number of participants yet. Wendy Cushing took first place in the Abs of Iron race, closely followed by Charlotte Barrow.