User:Rubberneck Equipe Sportif/Ergophobia

Ergophobia is an annual Decathlon founded in 2004 by members of the Queen's University Belfast Boat Club (QUBBC). The event is open to all-comers and has attracted entries from throughout Northern Ireland and mainland UK. It comprises of ten events spanning over 2 days, designed to test every aspect of physical and mental endurance. With past winners including QUBBC legends Martin Campbell and Matthew Rea, the event's stature continues to grow, attracting more and more interest each year.

History
Ergophobia I was contested in August 2004. It attracted a total of 6 competitors with only 4 completing the event. Taking home the coveted trophy was Martin Campbell of Belfast, Northern Ireland. With a gargantuan effort in the final event the 'marathon ergometer', and a time of 2hrs 50 mins 44.6 seconds, the trophy went to a worthy champion, and it looks to be a record that will stand the test of time. Matthew Rea of Ivybridge, England finished second in the event and Niall Brunker of Belfast, Northern Ireland finished in third place.

After promising to "Win it next year, so it is!" Matthew Rea delivered on his promise and turned in a commanding performance in Ergophobia II, to win the event ahead of Gareth Love of Enniskillen who finished strongly but left it too late and could not catch Rea.

The 2006 event lived up to its billing, and proved to be the most exciting to date. Three records were broken as the lead changed several times before Daniel O'Hare, who had missed the previous editions through injury and whilst spending a year travelling, produced a 3h 03 m Marathon Row and deny Matthew Rea's bid to retain the trophy.

Ergophobia III was also the first year in which all competitors who started completed the event, including two novices, James Graham from South Africa, Felix Rice, and athletics club member Simon Murray. Murray impressed in completing the 2k Scull section, despite never having have been in a boat before and falling in the River Lagan along the way, only to be outdone in the effort stakes by Rice, not a strong swimmer, who completed the swimming section despite being unable to swim full lengths in the later stages, earning himself the nickname "the Fish."

The 2007 event was a more low key affair but this did not prevent Gareth Love, a veteran of all 3 previous events, producing a monumental effort on the hang tough to displace Rea at the top of the leaderboard and claim his maiden Ergophobia victory, handing Rea his third second place finish in the event.

From 2014 onwards the hosting of the event switched from QUBBC to the newly formed Rubberneck Equipe Sportif which will continue to organise and host the event.

Events
Day one comprises of the following events:

100 m Run Long Jump Weight throw (Disc Throw prior to 2007) 400 Cycle 800 m Run (Kayak in 2004)

Day two comprises of the following events:

Cross trainer (2 km Scull prior to 2007) Weightlifting 1500 m Swim Army event Marathon Ergometer

2004
1. Martin Campbell 2. Matthew Rea 3. Naill Brunker 4. Gareth Love 5. Chris Wylie (DNF) 6. Ryan Robinson (DNF)

2005
1. Matthew Rea 2. Gareth Love 3. Eoghan Kerlin(DNF) 4. Stuart Wilson(DNF)

2006
1. Daniel O'Hare 2. Matthew Rea 3. Gareth Love 4. James Graham 5. Felix Rice 6. Simon Murray

2007
1. Gareth Love 2. Matthew Rea 3. Daniel O'Hare

2008
1. Daniel O'Hare 2. Matthew Rea 3. James Graham 4. Mark Jamison

2009
1. Matthew Rea 2. Daniel O'Hare 3. Mark Jamison

2010
Event cancelled due to inclement weather

2011
1. Matthew Rea 2. Cormac O'Connor 3. Eamon Rafferty 4. Ryan Robinson 5. Robert Montgomery 6. Danny O'Hare 7. John Wilson 8. Niall Brunker 9. Simon Murray

Song
The official ergophobia song, first sung in 2006.
 * The Decky Song
 * Recently i've been,
 * dilling a decky,
 * events one till fi,
 * we did them last nigh', 
 * believe me.
 * Saturday morining,
 * swim drives me round the bend,
 * 2k scull to come,
 * my butt cheeks are numb,
 * it kills me.
 * We finished it today,
 * and now it's time for us to say.
 * Obviously, we're gettin' steamin',
 * learnt the decathlon, now we get the swally on
 * and we know we'll thup until the Bucky is all done,
 * Oh Yeah,
 * we'll thup until the Bucky is all done.
 * I did a long ergo,
 * it went so bloody slow,
 * took over three hours,
 * then drank Buck in the showers,
 * I'm steamin.'
 * 
 * So many ergos,
 * I find myself getting a phobia
 * Obviously, we're gettin' steamin',
 * learnt the decathlon, now we get the swally on
 * and we know we'll thup until the Bucky is all done,
 * Oh Yeah,
 * we'll thup until the Bucky is all done.
 * It's out of my hands,
 * and I don't know if I can stand,
 * Cos I'm so steamin' so it went,
 * (steamin' so it went)
 * Obviously, we're gettin' steamin',
 * learnt the decathlon, now we get the swally on
 * and we know we'll thup until the Bucky is all done,
 * Oh Yeah,
 * we'll thup until the Bucky is all done.
 * Cos I'm so steamin' so it went,
 * (steamin' so it went)
 * Obviously, we're gettin' steamin',
 * learnt the decathlon, now we get the swally on
 * and we know we'll thup until the Bucky is all done,
 * Oh Yeah,
 * we'll thup until the Bucky is all done.
 * we'll thup until the Bucky is all done.