British Triathlon mourns tragic loss of Peter Holmes – article updated with funeral details

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Updated: Funeral details can now be found at the bottom of this article:

British Triathlon is deeply saddened by the news received from the International Triathlon Union of the tragic loss of Peter Holmes, ITU Communications Manager, in a winter sports accident in Canada on Saturday 4 December.

“This is devastating news,� said Sarah Springman, President of British Triathlon and Vice President of the International Triathlon Union. “Peter was such a wonderful young man. He was a great enthusiast and had so much talent, potential and energy for so many different fields. He was extremely popular within the BTF family and was known and appreciated all around the country. British Triathlon was very proud of him when he was selected to go to his dream job working for ITU in Canada, and notwithstanding the very short period he was there, he was extremely good at it too. The triathlon world is immeasurably poorer for this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents and brother at this very sad time.�

Peter joined the ITU in April 09 from British Triathlon, where he had been the Media Officer since 2006 after completing his degree at Loughborough University. 

A keen endurance runner – competing for his home club of Cheltenham Harriers at cross country, road and track events, Peter had also thrown himself into the sport making the GB Age Group Team for the 2007 ETU European Duathlon Championships.  Whilst working at British Triathlon, his role encompassed not only raising the profile of the elite side of the sport, but he was also the highly rated editor of the popular membership magazine Trinews, so will be known to, and missed by many people within the triathlon community.

Pete’s funeral will take place on Monday 21 December 2010. 

On the Day
Service - 12.30 pm. - St. Mary and the Virgin and St. Mary Magdalen Parish Church - central Tetbury

Followed by burial at The Holy Trinity Church in the nearby hamlet of Long Newnton [2kms away - just off the Malmesbury Road]

Reception at The Priory Inn, London Road, Tetbury.   It is expected that if there is an overflow, some of Peter's ex-Marling School friends / possibly Loughborough friends may move on to "The Ormond at Tetbury" or "The Snooty Fox" - where the family will join them later.

Donations
Donations in Peter's memory are also being handled by Matthews of Malmesbury [cheques to them]. The proceeds will be split between the mountain rescue teams of North Shore, Vancouver, BC, Canada and Cockermouth, Cumbria [Pete’s father has a Cumbrian MRT association]. They are both voluntary organisations.

Flowers
In terms of flowers, family flowers are “preferred" -however, this is not exclusively so.  British Triathlon will therefore be sending a wreath on behalf of the sport.  If you wish to send flowers then they can be sent care of the Funeral Directors:-

Matthews of Malmesbury
7, Burnham Road
Malmesbury
Wiltshire.
SN16 0BQ

Tel: 01666 822216
www.matthewsofmalmesbury.com
Director - James Beesley