The Guernsey Triathlon Club is racing into the 2018 season sporting a brand new dedicated van and some strong funding; both essential elements for the continued growth of the sport.
Mark Naftel, the Club’s president said: “With Joshua Lewis having just represented the island in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast placing 24thand ahead of Jersey’s finest, it is proof that Guernsey has the ability to compete at an international level.
“It’s therefore essential that we continue to nurture our junior talent and this can only happen with the continued financial support.”
The new club van features strong club branding and images of local athletes taken by talented local sports photographer, Andy Dovey. It will enable the club to transfer its transition, safety and course marking equipment to various local race venuesand other events such as the Jersey Triathlon, attended every year by a group of Guernsey Triathlon club members.
Smith Signs, who have 50% shared ownership of the van, created the branding for the vehicle and installed its shared mezzanine club storage facility as a continuation of the club’s relationship with the business. When the van is not needed by the club Smith Signs will use it to go about its daily business helping to gain strong visibility around the island of the sport.
The club has additionally secured a further four years funding from the Ana Leaf Foundation who has been its primary sponsor now for over six years.
Through this sponsorship the club has been able to keep all junior coaching and regular junior events free of charge for the younger age groups, from the very youngest (three year olds on balance bikes), right through to the club’s under 21’s who are still in education.
Ana Leaf Foundation has pledged to help fund the club up to and including the 2021 Guernsey Island Games, which is already in the early planning stages for both hosting the triathlon and developing the squad.
The Guernsey Triathlon Club promotes and encourages the sport of triathlon by providing a friendly environment in which people can meet to train for and compete in triathlons, duathlons and other multi-sport events irrespective of age, sporting ability and gender, and by organising regular competitions throughout the year.
2017 was a busy year, with over 120 members and an equal number of none members taking part in over a dozen races of varying distances using a new electronic ‘chip’ timing system, the product of another partnership.
This year the club will continue to work hard to increase female and junior participation and has plans to develop a female development squad and pathway for talented women athletes as well as a dedicated female club coach.
Naftel said: “Sharing a van by partnering with Smith Signs is a perfect solution for our transport needs. We are also extremely grateful to the Ana Leaf Foundation for its continued support. The Guernsey triathlon scene is certainly looking in good shape and we are excited ahead of the launch of our summer season.”
The new wheels will have its debut at the Ana Leaf Foundation Series Novice Triathlon which takes place on Sunday 13 May at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre. The event will be a great introduction for adults with a 400m pool swim, 8 mile bike ride and 2 mile run.
A children’s triathlon follows the main event with short, age related distances, pool swim, grass cycle and run course.
The club’s race calendar is now finalised for the 2018 and can be found at www.guernseytriathlon.com.