IN HIS final event of a gruelling season, Wight Tri’s Steve Dines completed his tenth triathlon.

Steve rose to the challenge of the Hemel Hempstead Sprint Tri — meeting his target of ten triathlons for the year.

Done as a tribute to his late father, Geoff, a dementia sufferer, Steve set himself not just his physical goal, but to also raise money for Dementia UK.

Not only did Steve want to complete the triathlons, he wanted to finish in the top ten for his age group in each one.

Isle of Wight County Press: Wight Tri’s Steve Dines set himself a challenge of ten triathlons this season. Wight Tri’s Steve Dines set himself a challenge of ten triathlons this season.

Steve started his triathlon journey in April at Southampton in the rain — and finished in identical conditions in Hemel Hempstead.

Also, in memory of his dad, Steve had named his camper-van Geoff, which has a number plate personalised in his name, to carry his memory with him throughout his ten-tri challenge.

Steve finished his final event in in style.

The triathlon started with a 400m snake swim in an outdoor pool, followed by a hilly, undulating, two-lap 20km bike course — finishing with an out and back 5km run course, with a long ascent to the turnaround.

In the wet and windy conditions, Steve finished as first vet 60-64 and was 32nd overall, from 115 starters.

  • Wight Tri’s Mary Norman ran her 17th marathon, the Isle of Wight Marathon, last Sunday. She finished third woman overall and won her age group in a swift 3.43.55, to end a superb year for her.