Iron couple to become Iron trio
Bella and Stephen announce they're to become three
Stephen and Bella Bayliss (nee Comerford) have announced that they are expecting their first child.
Bella, who is three months pregnant, comments, “ I think this may be quite a shock to many people, however Stephen and I could not be happier! Of course this will be a huge change in both our lives but it is what we had always planned.”
She continues, “I will be taking a break from competition until I have the baby and have had a chance to adjust to motherhood. I plan to come back to race and although I have no fixed date for my return planned at this time, it is likely to be late 2011 or early 2012. I know that coming back to race will be very challenging, but I am up for it!
When asked if this means she would not be around much on the triathlon scene this year, she commented, “I definitely won’t be invisible this year. I plan to keep myself busy doing promotion work for our sponsors, some coaching; which is part of Stephen and my long term plan, write some articles and to be at many of the races Stephen does until the baby is due at the beginning of August.”
Expectant father Stephen comments, “I am almost beyond words to describe how happy I am, I am going to be a dad! This is definitely going to bring a new dimension to my racing, an extra incentive to do well.”
Stephen’s quest for success and provision for his family starts in Abu Dhabi in March where he and Bella will travel to from Ibiza which they are using as their winter training base.
After Abu Dhabi Stephen’s tentative race schedule is:
March – Abu Dhabi International Triathlon
April – The Koh Samui Triathlon, Thailand
May – TBC. Possibilities include 70.3 Mallorca, IM Lanzarote or Challenge Half Barcelona
June – 70.3 UK
July – TBC possibilities include IM Austria, IM UK
August – Embrunman Triathlon
September – Gerardmer Triathlon, Challenge Henley
October – Homme De Ferro (Ibiza Long Course Triathlon)
To follow the IronCouple on their journey through the 2011 triathlon season and on their journey to parenthood, visit www.theironcouple.com where you can link through to their blog or twitter.
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
