Did you know that Crowborough has its very own Triathlon Club? It has been going for 18 years and has over 40 members. We pride ourselves on being a very friendly and inclusive club that welcomes all ages and abilities, including those who have never taken part in a triathlon before.
Our club has seen some amazing achievements. Six of our members have qualified for age group Team GB and competed all over the world. One of our members, Annie Sidgwick, qualified for Team GB at the age of 63. Annie did her first triathlon 8 years previously and then found herself travelling to Geneva, Lisbon, Glasgow and Munich for the European Championships, as well as London and Chicago for the World Championships. Annie has achieved all this while actively supporting and encouraging others in the club to do the same.
But it’s not all about winning big races; for many of us, it’s the taking part that is most important.
After my Dad passed away 6 years ago, a friend introduced me to Park Run and I found running helped me to deal with the grief. When the same friend suggested triathlons, I laughed at her! A year later, I joined Crowborough Tri Club. I’m not a Team GB athlete, but I love taking part, keeping fit and the social aspects of the club.
We have a coached swim session at the Leisure Centre on Mondays; outdoor cycle rides in the summer and coached spin sessions during the winter; run regularly at local Park Runs or around Crowborough and on the Forest. We also like to meet up for a meal and drinks (my favourite part!)
Some members are in training for long distance ‘Ironman’ races, while others are looking to enter a ‘Tri-a-Tri’ (usually a 200m swim, 12km bike ride and 2.5km run). The club takes part in lots of local races, which are a great way to introduce yourself to the sport and build your confidence.
We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to join our swim/bike/run sessions – we are definitely worth a Tri! Email info@crowboroughtri.org or visit our website crowboroughtri.org.
– Jo Smith, Crowborough Tri Club
