Triathletes Celebrate a Record Year

Worcester Triathlon Club held its annual dinner-dance and awards ceremony at the Vale Golf Club on Saturday night.  Club membership now stands at an all-time high of over 100, reflected in the eighty-plus members and guests who attended the evening.

The guest speaker was Bromsgrove-born Tom Lowe who in his first Ironman event in Arizona last year broke the British record with a time of 8 hours 11 minutes 44 seconds to take third place.  Tom spoke about his early years in Worcestershire, his career in the army and of taking time out to train full-time which allowed him to compete to the high level he achieved in Arizona.  Now working full-time again Tom was able to impart invaluable advice to club members on how best to combine work and training.

Chairman Duncan Jenkins then invited Tom to present the 2010 club awards.  The Howard Peters award for the Fun Race at Top Barn Farm went to Lisa Powell and Ethan Hunter.  The Arran Stephens award for the Most Improved Triathlete went to Neil Crump who completed 20 endurance races to raise money for MS research.  The International Award went to Kevin May who completed three Ironman events including a sub-10 hour finish in Switzerland.  Club champions were Richard Gourlay and Michelle Parsons.  The Triathletes of the Year were Tom Watts and Ceris Styler.  Finally the junior awards went to Rachel Powell for Most Improved Junior (sponsored by St John’s based technical sportswear manufacturer Scimitar Sports); Nixie Turner, who won the West Midlands TriStar 2 series, was voted best female junior performance, while David Jubb who won the West Midlands youth series, picked up the junior male performance award.

Finally, willing volunteers Lisa and Chris Powell, Andy Turner, Chas Taylor, Phil Parson and Les Bailey were rewarded with the Chairman’s ‘Good Egg’ awards for their contributions to the running of the Club.

To round off the evening a T-shirt signed by Tom Lowe was auctioned and raided £33 for club funds.

Commenting on the evening, Club Chairman Duncan Jenkins said ‘Our members represent Worcestershire across the UK and internationally and it was great to see such a good turnout to celebrate a fantastic year for us in 2010 and in particular to see so many of our junior members taking part in the evening.  We are looking forward to another successful season this year’

For more information on Worcester Triathlon Club visit www.worcestertriclub.co.uk

The Club’s Annual Dinner will be held at the Vale Golf Club near Bishampton on Saturday 5th February 2011.
The committee have agreed to subsidise the cost of the three course dinner to £15 for adult members (+1st guest) and £10 for junior members. Non-members are very welcome @ £17 per head.
International duathlete and new British Ironman Record Holder, Tom Lowe is our guest speaker. Tom recently broke the British Ironman Record finishing in third place at Ironman Arizona in a phenomenal time of 8 hours 11 minutes and 44 seconds. This was his first Ironman event and his first ever marathon! Tom went to North Bromsgrove High School so is a Worcestershire lad although I think he now splits his time between the UK and Boulder in Colorado.
The event starts at 7pm and directions to the club are available here http://www.thevalegolf.co.uk/thevale_contact.htm.
During the evening we hope to have another sports quiz, the Club awards for the 2010 season and the ever popular Raffle (please let me know if you want to donate a prize).
Tickets are now available by either emailing Les Bailey lesbailey1@btinternet.com or Phil Parsons parsons@clemrab.com. Alternatively give Les a ring or catch up with him at one of the club’s training sessions.
Your earliest responses would be greatly appreciated together with any special dietary requirements so that we can inform the club well in advance.