This year 150 registered triathletes took part in the SWS; 14 TS1 boys and 13 girls, 34 TS2 boys and 21 girls, 21 TS3 boys and 19 girls and 17 male Youths and 11 females.

The first race kicked off at Odd Down circuit in Bath on 21 March, a purpose built cycle track untouched by road vehicle. The circuit measuring 1.5km includes 2 hairpin bends and is built on a slight slope. The TS1 and Youths enjoyed this event as part of their Series and the TS2 & 3’s competed here as their Duathlon Championship race.

Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset hosted the next race on 26 April for the TS1, 2 & 3’s and Youths. This race takes place on closed roads along the sea front following a pool based swim and finishing along the promenade having run ½ the distance on the beach. This is an incredibly popular race due to its location and often entries close very early but this year 2/3 of the SW triathletes managed to secure a place in this race.

The Youths and the first SWS race for the Juniors took them to Cotswold Open Water Triathlon on 10 May and the TS1, 2 & 3’s headed to Gloucester on 17 May for a grass based triathlon at Sir Thomas Rich's School, Gloucester.

It was then Vale Tridents turn to host their own Triathlon at Faringdon Leisure Centre on 14 June for the TS1, 2 & 3’s.

On the 5 July the SW triathletes headed out of area to their IRC qualifier race at Dorney Lake where they raced among 1000 triathletes across the country for a place in the Team SW. There were 5 other Regions using this Human Race as a qualifier for the IRC’s and Team SW enjoyed 6 podium finishes including 3 firsts! This race also confirmed Niall Caley of Bad Tri as the TS3 boys overall winner and Ellie Hobbs of Yate Tri-Stars as the TS3 girls overall winner. Elliot Lassiter finished this event as the overall Series winner for the Male Youths.

The TS2 & 3’s and Youths completed their Series on 11 July in the Open Water Aquathlon off Portland and it was here that first year TS 2 Alexandra Palotai-Avella of Dorset Pentathletes confirmed her win for the Series and Benjamin Cumberland for the TS2 boys. Florence Swan secured her overall win for the Series when she finished the race as the first SW female Youth.

Bad Tri’s hosted the final race of the Series for TS1 at their Junior Triathlon on 18 July and whilst Joshua Cumberland was leading the Series going into this race it was Storm Munday who won the race and finished just ahead of Joshua on points to win the Series with Taya Dee winning the Series for the girls.

Overall Winners of the SWS

IRC REPORT

IRC Selection

Following the IRC qualifier race at Eton Dorney on Sunday 5 July, the top 12 TS2 & 3 Triathletes were selected to represent Team SW at the IRC held at the British Triathlon Under 20’s Festival at Mallory Park in Leicestershire on 5/6 September 2015.

The following triathletes were selected:

TS2 Boys                                                                       TS2 Girls                                  

Ryan Symington                                                      Alexandra Palotai-Avella

Ben Cumberland                                                     Olivia Earthy

Lawrence Martindale                                           Jessica Hudson

TS3 Boys                                                                       TS3 Girls

Alex Pilgrim                                                               Ellie Hobbs

Niall Caley                                                                   Daisy Davies

Harry O’Donoghue                                                Katie Scott

Team SW Training

Arrangements were made for the Team SW and reserves to attend a 3 day training camp at Leweston School in Dorset from 26-28 August.  The top placed TS1 girls and boys were also invited as it was felt it was important to nurture these young triathletes too in preparation for their transition to TS2 when restricted gearing and drafting rules apply.

The training covered transitions, brick sessions, simulated open water starts and turns in the pool, drafting both in the water and on the bike and on the final day parents collected the triathletes mid-morning so they could be transported by car to Weymouth where they biked in small drafting groups along the tarmac cycle track to Dorchester and back gaining valuable speed and drafting practice in a safe and open environment. Next stop was Weymouth beach which provided a great spectacle for both locals and tourists alike as 26 young triathletes cycled into Weymouth and deposited their bikes along the sea front for their final training in the open water. I am very grateful to Mick Flaherty who provided the coaching alongside Danny Symington, Richard Stillion and myself.

IRC

The Team assembled at Mallory Park at 1230 for team photos and lunch before registration and roll out took place. The track practice proved valuable experience as the course had been changed from the event in July, with hairpin bends added to the course providing some technical challenge to race day. Team coaches from other regions were not happy at this last minute change but this did not phase Team SW as this had been covered on Team SW’s 3 day training camp. The change was made due to the technical course ahead for the Juniors at the Final round of the WTS in Chicago next month. Dan Salcedo, BTF Performance Pathway Manager made the decision to keep the course the same for the IRC’s to give them the opportunity of riding a technical course and Team SW were very pleased with the decision.

The bespoke Tri Suits designed and produced by Zone 3 were very well received and I’m pleased to report they were all a perfect fit and stood out from the other 11 Regions. I have George Mann from Zone 3 to thank. The Tri Suit design will now stay with Team SW for the foreseeable future providing a cost effective solution to funding Team SW with their Tri Suits annually.

The race day itself on Sunday 6 September went well and I am pleased to report Team SW for the second year running won Bronze Award, just 8 points ahead of Yorkshire. East Midlands took Gold and North West won Silver. Team SW results were as follows:

4^th Ryan Symington TS2

5^th Ben Cumberland TS2

6^th Alexandra Palotai-Avella TS2

8^th Ellie Hobbs TS3

9^th Niall Caley TS3

10^th Daisy Davies TS3

11^th Lawrence Martindale TS2

22^nd Harry O’Donoghue TS3

25^th Alex Pilgrim TS3

27 Olivia Earthy TS2

33^rd Katie Scott TS3

34^th Jessica Hudson TS2

Melanie Cumberland

TESW JSO