Saturday 9 November saw Triathlon England members gather in Birmingham at the inaugural Triathlon England Conference for a series of workshops, awards and the 2019 AGM.
Attendees took part in a selection of workshops in the morning covering topics including club management, nutrition and GO TRI. These sessions provided information and support for coaches, volunteers, clubs and officials in their triathlon journeys, as well as providing CPD to help them to assist those whom they support.
The conference also hosted the 2019 Triathlon England Awards to celebrate the contribution that volunteers make to the sport. The role of volunteers is vital to the running of the sport and often goes unnoticed. The annual awards provide an opportunity for volunteers within the sport, from event organisers to coaches and officials, to be recognised and rewarded on both a regional and national level.
With 10 awards on offer, the regional award winners from the categories were put before a committee to select the national winners. The awards were handed out at the conference by double Commonwealth gold medallist Jodie Stimpson. A full list of the winners is available here.
The day concluded with the Triathlon England AGM where members voted and passed a number of resolutions proposed by the Triathlon England Management Board. Members were also able to hear from the board on the financial performance and governance of the organisation.
A key theme for the board and executive team over the past 12 months has been diversity in triathlon. This has seen Triathlon England awarded the intermediate level of Equality Standard for Sport and a diversity and inclusion working group established.
The AGM also saw the release of the 2019 Triathlon England Annual Report, in which it was reported that board comprised of 60% females, with 50% of the board considering themselves to have a disability or long-term health condition. The report also highlighted that 20% of the board were from a BAME background.
Andy Salmon, CEO British Triathlon, said: “The Triathlon England Conference, Awards and AGM was a huge success and we are so grateful for such a fantastic turn out. The day presented a great opportunity to connect with clubs and members and share our latest initiatives to grow the sport.
“It was also an opportunity to celebrate the great progress made over the past 12 months in making triathlon more diverse through a more inclusive approach. The Triathlon England Management Board is surely amongst the most diverse in England and we are very proud of this.
“As an organisation, Triathlon England are committed to ensuring that no matter a person’s background or identity, they are able to access a great experience in swim, bike, run, and it is with the help of volunteers who were celebrated at the awards that we are able to do this.”
