Christa Bell-Evans was a well-known Haverfordwest athlete and hockey player who represented Wales as a teenager and returned to Pembrokeshire recently to spend time with her husband Philip's family in Heritage Gate, Haverfordwest.

But Christa was training very hard during her stay because when she returns to her home on the Gold Coast in Australia she will be representing her new country in the World Off-Road Triathlon Championships on the 28th November.

Training hard whilst on holiday

And that is why Christa could be spotted running in the early dark mornings from the county town to her friend's home in Hill Mountain, or cycling during the day around some of the nearby lanes, or running as part of the daily schedule provided for her via an app on her mobile phone from her Australian coaches! 

Throw in some open-sea swimming at Broad Haven or the odd trek to the swimming pool at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre and it is easy to see just how committed Christa is to her chosen sport.

Battling back from breast cancer

It is a commitment that is all the more praiseworthy because Christa suffered from breast cancer three years ago and after a double mastectomy and chemotherapy she is back looking in the best of condition and determined to show other ladies that there is life after this awful illness has struck.

To that end she has also been heavily involved in fundraising for cancer charities and so far has helped to raise over 60,000 dollars.

Family matters

"I have been hugely lucky to have the total support of my husband Phil,” said Christa, “who used to play rugby for Llangwm before we moved to Australia with my work as a doctor in accident & emergency, plus pediatrics.

"The same can be said of our sons Ryan (17) who plays rugby league, and Sam (13) who is still waiting to be discovered by his favourite team Liverpool, and daughter Arienne (10) who enjoys touch football and dance. Sadly, Ryan graduates on the day of the World Championships but insisted mum goes for her big day, with Phil there to support him.

"My mother, Pauline Keeley, used to run me everywhere in Haverfordwest as a youngster and now lives in Australia, whilst Phil's inspirational parents, Chris and Mike Evans, are still heavily involved in cycling and I was lucky to be loaned a bike during my stay back here from their daughter Catherine and son-in-law Mark Rendell, who run Mike's Bikes!

Athletics and hockey in school – and further afield

When she attended Tasker Milward School Christa was encouraged all the way by Richard ‘Stag' Jones and his wife Judith and still holds some school records over 30 years on.
"I competed regularly in the 800 metres and represented Wales against the other home countries in an international at Crawley - and I also ran in the cross-country for Wales and enjoyed that as well.

"Then hockey began to take over and I played for Tasker Milward as a midfielder and then for the Welsh Schools, went on a brilliant tour to Holland and as well as playing at under 21 level I was also briefly in the Welsh senior squad and played a few games.

"I also really enjoyed playing for Haverfordwest Ladies, who had players of the quality of Kerry Crook, Elaine Scale, Beth Aubrey and Alison Watts - and when I went to Cardiff Medical School to train as a doctor I played there and for Penarth Ladies; all great fun."

Tough road cycling – and mountain biking too

"I had kept up my involvement in running and then I started an interest in cycling when my father -in-law Mike opened his cycle shop and I had my first mountain bike. Phil and I joined Mike in a charity cycle from St Justinian’s (near St Davids) to Great Yarmouth, a distance of 400 miles in only four days, and I realised what a tough challenge really was, as mother-in law Chris and my friend Kate Gibson sorted out the logistical side of the four days.

"After a couple of spells working in Cardiff, Brisbane and Sidney we finally settled in Australia back in 2002 and as well as some mixed hockey I also did plenty of mountain biking on some terrific terrain, mixed with amazing scenery, at the Gold Coast.

Memorable moments at the ‘Straddie Salute’

"One of the most memorable events was my taking part in the inaugural 'Straddie Salute' at North Stradbroke Island, Brisbane, which took in miles of blue sea and white sand as we swam 600 metres, cycled 17 kilometres of road and then ran eight kilometres through a gorge where we could see whales, dolphins and turtles.

"I have returned to the event most years since and I am already looking forward to 2017 as a member of the local triathlon club called Team T-Rex, with our nickname being the 'DirTy Rex' because of our off-road exploits under the watchful eyes of Coach T, Coach Mocca and all the great people at T-Rex.

"We often meet up for training at 5am because it isn't too hot then and it means we can get it done before setting off for a day's work."

Qualifying for Australia in off-road triathlon

Christa has now competed at over 20 top triathlons and she had already won qualification for the national championships by dint of the fact that she had done really well in a competition based on five races held in Queensland (x2), New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria which was organised on a points basis.

 "Then I was in good form for the nationals at Lake Crackenbach in New South Wales where there were upwards of 20 in my 45-49 age category and I was delighted to learn that I had qualified for the World Off-Road Triathlon Championships which are to be held in the beautiful Snowy Mountains, where the 1,500 metre swim will take place in a lake flanked by the mountain snows, then a 30 kilometre mountain bike run and 10 kilometre trail run."

Still busy whilst back home

She is now training hard and on the day we met up with Christa she had put in a 10k run and a 3.2k swim in open water, followed by mountain bike riding and weight training the day after, and then running and more swimming the day after that - whilst she is on holiday!

Not content with that little lot, Christa had contacted the Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club to look for some training with them - and was hoping to gain late entry to the Dale 10K race the following weekend.
 

And finally . . .

Christa is already looking forward to her next big challenge, which hopefully will be in two years’ time when she will be 50 and aiming to travel to the Hawiiain Island of Maui, where the next World Chamionships will be held.

In the meanwhile she will continue to enjoy her sporting life and it was lovely to meet up with Christa Bell-Evans because her enthusiasm is infectious and she is flying the Pembrokeshire Flag with distinction on the medical and sporting fronts on the Gold Coast in Australia!