Friday 29 November saw a small gathering for the awards of 2024 and an opportunity to chat about what we would like to see from the club next year in terms multisport.
We decided it would be good to get some specific swim training sessions, and some group rides organised. I undertook to look for some possible venues for swimming and to find a suitable coach to help us out. My own coach training was interrupted last year, but I am hoping to be complete by the start of next season, so I will be available to assist or even organise some swim sessions myself. We have a British Cycling qualified coach in Adam, and I am already a BTF Activator so group rides would not be an issue. We have plenty of run coaches and sessions already.
Next year we decided to target the Eastern Region League events. They haven’t all been announced yet, but we will keep an eye out and give an update when the dates become available. We also looked at Culford in July for our Club Championship race, so hopefully we can get good club representation there! Holkham Half is also on our radar.
Anybody fancy a trip to Estonia next year for the Tallinn Half Ironman? It’s been a while since the club did a mass awayday so it would be good to get as many as possible over there for that. We already have some interested, so if you do fancy it too, let me know! Lizzie is hoping to compete with Chris in his wheelchair, so we hope to be there. Some hardy souls even suggested going back the following year for the Full!
So, who won what this year?
Our Triathlete of the Year was Jo Sargent who, in her first two years of multisport, has already clocked up over 10 events!
The Novice Award (for an athlete who has competed in less than three events as a Hare) went to Adam Chamberlin who completed his first duathlon and is keen to do more – including learning to swim!!
Ironman of the Year was Paul Barton – Paul was one of the very first Hares to take up triathlons, right back in 2004. This year he supported his daughter Alana around Zell am See 70.3 in Austria. Selfless as ever, helping the next generation to ‘live the dream’!
Age Grouper of the Year went to Sam Theobold for her excellent performances at Torremolinos where she represented the GB age group team in the standard and team relay events.
The Katrina Rigby Award for BTF Eastern Region League success went to Deborah Stewart who won her age group this year. Not bad considering the League covers six counties!
All Rounder went to Lizzie Stewart who has competed in every distance and every type of event save full Ironman distance over the past twelve months, whilst battling various health issues.
Certificates were awarded to Rob Giles, Adam Chamberlin and Sam Theobold for representing the Hares for the first time as multisporters, and to Jo Sargent for achieving ten events as a Hare.
Well done to all our winners this year and let’s look forward to even more success next season.
If you are tempted by the ‘Dark Side’ by all means come and have a chat about how to get started. Even if you are unsure about wanting to compete in triathlon, swimming and cycling are excellent cross training opportunities so you would be welcome at any training sessions you fancy….
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