This brief overview will outline what your committee has been working on and achieved during the last twelve months.
We have had six committee meetings and five Club meetings all of which were well attended.
This was the first year in the club’s three year history where we really managed to establish an identity and bring together people of all abilities who wanted to participate in the three triathlon disciplines.
Members trained, raced or just enjoyed the social side of the club and asked for more regular training and social events.
Following on from last year it was recognised that three areas needed to be improved in order to aid the growth and success of the club:
1. Communication – Improve on the existing website, social media and introduce the use of texts and e-mails to inform club members as to what is going on.
2. Club Kit – Supply branded affordable training and social clothing to all club members.
3. Training sessions – Provide more structured weekly training sessions for people at all stages in their triathlon careers.
During the year the committee worked hard on improving these three things. The website was further improved initially by Steve Hughes and then again by Dave Stead who also took on the role of developing the social media side of the club, updating Facebook and introducing Twitter. Weekly texts notifying people of training sessions are now sent out by Club Captain Duncan Bush and this is followed up by a monthly overview of activities via
E-mail. We will still look to improve this over the next year.
We now have club branded clothing including Tri-suits, Cycle Jerseys, Training tops and hoodies. Whenever we are cycling, running or racing now our club can be identified by our bright green livery. Running vests are the next on the list, just in time for the Cross Country season.
The number of dedicated training sessions the club puts on has increased dramatically over the last twelve months. In the summer season we had two weekly cycle sessions, four River swims and more recently a weekly speed work running session as well as a weekend cycle and run.
The introduction of the winter Turbo sessions has once again proved popular with members.
Many of our members also supplement their training by cycling with St Neots Cycling Club, swimming with the Swans Swimming Club and running with Riverside Runners, this is something that the committee hopes will continue to flourish.
Club participation events chosen for the committee in 2013 were as follows:
1. NiceTri sprint triathlon in May
2. National Club Relays Nottingham held in August
3. Dorney Lakes Triathlons end of September
The highlight of these events was the National Club Relays in Nottingham. NiceTri had ten teams and forty people taking part. I believe we had the largest number of competitors from any one club on the Saturday and to top it all we had a first and third place for two of our teams. A great fun event that the committee felt really raised the profile of the club as well as giving the club an even bigger feel good factor.
Now that the club is looking forward to its third official year and it has many reasons to be proud.
Membership has now grown to over eighty people with a good mix of ladies, men, younger and new club members.
Feedback from club members is that the club is supportive, friendly and above all a fun place to be.
For a club of less than one hundred members we have had great success with members qualifying to represent their country both in European and World events.
Sprint Triathlon Tom Stead, Richard Hancock, Emma Ritchie, Mick Lawrence, Ed Porteus, Chris Ritchie.
Middle Distance Triathlon– Duncan Bush.
Duathlon – Les Thomas, Kye Liddle, Tom Stead and Ian Turner.
Aquathlon – Tom Stead
Apologies if I have missed anyone from the list.
We have also had the following people undertaking their first Iron Distance events this year.
Duncan Bush, Keith Ritchie, Keith Pritchard, Lucy Bush, Steve Childerly, Phil Laycock, Neil Stevenson, Paul Newell, Chell Ritchie, Steve Hughes , Darren Preston ,Michaela and myself. Then of course we have double Iron Man Gary Wale.
Just as important we had sixteen club members complete their first triathlon, well done to all of them. The committee offers its congratulations to all the club members on their personal achievements this year whatever they have been.
I would also like to thank all the members of the committee for their time and enthusiasm over the last year and hopefully you will agree that they have made a lot of progress in the development of the club.
Finally, your committee would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you, the club’s members for choosing NiceTri and the support you have given through attending training sessions, social events and racing as for the club. The club simply would not exist without you all and it is your enthusiasm and commitment that keeps it going.
