When Richard Greensmith received a call from his granddaughter promising a surprise gift on his 78th birthday, the Englishman had little inclination what it was.
He recalled her saying: "I've got a lovely 78th birthday present for you, granddad, but you will need your bike."
He added: "She never said what it was. Absolutely incredible."
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More
• Van Lierde makes all the running on a hot day at Abu Dhabi Triathlon
• Triathlete Joyce glad to finish in one piece
• High drama for Egyptian at Abu Dhabi International Triathlon
• Abu Dhabi hospitality makes challenge worth the wait for triathlete
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Greensmith arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday morning and 24 hours later he was accepting his gift as he cycled in the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon as part of a relay team that included his granddaughter and a friend.
"It is so hot and windy out there, but it's fantastic," the native of Nottingham said after his 50km cycling round, enjoying himself even as others as young as his granddaughter struggled on an unusually hot, 36°C day.
"I did a bit of practice, but not in this heat," he said. "It is only 6°C back in the UK. This is my first triathlon. I only cycle for leisure, normally about 100 miles a week. So this slotted into the right distance - 30ish miles.
"I was just hoping I didn't dehydrate. That's the main thing, because it was so hot."
As the temperature rose through the day, Greensmith was often asking himself why he was out there.
"I could be in the pool," he said. "But it has been a great, great occasion. God willing, I'd love to [do this again]. It's inspired me to have another crack."
John Stewart, 16 years younger than Greensmith, is also looking forward to coming back. He arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday and will be flying back to the UK's Midlands today after taking part in the Short Course section of the triathlon, which involves 1,500m of swimming, 100km of cycling and a 10km run.
"I have been doing this for 14 years now and I have done about 20 long-course races," said Stewart, 62. "So I started as an old man, but what I like about this is you can compete with people in your own age group, and competing is the name of the game.
"This is my first time here and it is a bit warm for me because I come from a really cold country - raining, cold, wind, snow.
"It was very windy at the back end and loads of sand. It's just too much, but I will come again next year. I will do the long course."
Given his age and the difficult weather conditions, many would question the wisdom behind coming back for the longer race.
"It's the adrenalin," Stewart said. "On the start line, 2,000 other people around you. It's just the lifestyle. I am retired now, so this is what I do for sport. When I finish this, I will take up golf.
"I have never won a race. It's just about taking part, about racing and challenging yourself against the other people, people in your age group. The best part is finishing … a medal on the T-shirt.
"I came on my own and made loads of new friends. I will be going back with some good memories and a few telephone numbers."
While Stewart knows his way around a triathlon course, first-timer John Birk from Syracuse, New York, has learnt some important lessons for the next time. "I never practised all the three events together," said the Abu Dhabi-based expatriate.
"When I was training, I cycled, I swam and I ran, all separate. Putting them together is really difficult.
"So I would say try to put them together before you come to the real event, at least once for practice.
"The bike-run transition was pretty difficult.
"This was my first time and probably won't be my last. It was a good time, good experience. Tests your endurance."
With his stamina put to the test and quitting an easier option, Birk kept urging himself towards to the finish line.
"I was just telling myself not to stop," he said. "That's what you have to do, say 'Don't stop'. It's so easy to stop, but you have to keep telling yourself not to.
"You've got to be a little crazy to do [triathlons], especially the long ones. But the sense of accomplishment is pretty overwhelming."
arizvi@thenational.ae
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20profile
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At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
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- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
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14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
