BTF Celebrates Annual Award Winners

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The British Triathlon Annual Awards Dinner proved to be a great evening of celebration of another fantastic year for the organisation.

AWARD WINNERS:
Volunteer of the Year Richard Fuller
Coach of the Year Dean Hughes
Official of the Year Duncan Hough
Young Volunteer of the Year Luke Watson
Event of the Year Club Relays, Pace Setter Events
Club of the Year Charnwood Triathlon Club

Female Age Group Athlete of the Year Louise Collins, TFN
Male Age Group Athlete of the Year Mark Hirsh, BRAT

Female Elite Long Distance Athlete of the Year Chrissie Wellington
Male Elite Long Distance Athlete of the Year Scott Neyedli
Female Elite Duathlete of the Year Catriona Morrison
Male Elite Duathlete of the Year Paul Amey
Female Elite Triathlete of the Year Hollie Avil
Male Elite Triathlete of the Year Alistair Brownlee

British Olympic Association Athlete of the Year Hollie Avil


Most of the elite athletes were present to collect their awards, with a standing ovation for Chrissie Wellington, the first British winner of the World Ironman Championships.

Hollie Avil, the Junior European and World Champion, took to the stage twice. First to be presented with Female Elite Triathlete of the Year, and then later with the prestigious BOA Athlete of the Year trophy, a large silver sculpture of the Greek figure, Discopolis.

There was further success for British Triathlons juniors as Alistair Brownlee, the European gold medallist and World silver medallist was presented with the Male Elite Triathlete of the Year prize.

Louise Collins from Total Fitness Nottingham and Mark Hirsch from Birmingham Running and Triathlon Club were voted as the female and male Age Group Athlete of the Year respectively.

The East Midlands region celebrated with Charnwood Triathlon Club winning Club of the Year and the Club Relays, held at the National Water Sports Centre near Nottingham being crowned Event of the Year, much to the delight of Pace Setter Events.

The evening was rounded off by an inspiring after-dinner speech by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, the most successful British Paralympian; and a presentation to Norman Brook, the outgoing British Triathlon Chief Executive, who has led the organisation through enormous growth since 2000.