The ITU World Age-Group Championships in Chicago will be a family affair for the Symms this year with both mother and daughter racing and it will be the first time in GB kit for both. In summer 2014 daughter Anna had the idea to try to qualify in 2015 and managed to persuade mother Roe…with the help of a bottle of amaretto on a lovely summer’s evening in the garden on the farm! Anna then qualified at the Deva Triathlon (Chester) in June for the 30-34AG Standard distance and Roe at St Neots (Cambridgeshire) in May for the 60-64AG Sprint distance.

 

 

They are only occasionally able to train together, usually when Anna heads home for a visit, but have inspired each other and frequently discuss their triathlon plans over the telephone. Prior to taking up triathlon they were both hockey players, with Roe playing at an international level and inspiring Anna. In triathlon though it was Anna who first competed in a pool triathlon in September 2012, which was the inspiration for Roe to enter her first triathlon in June 2013.

 

Roe’s training is based around whatever free time she can get whilst helping to run the family dairy farm in Cheshire - cycling round the country lanes and running around the fields with their three dogs. 

 

Anna works full time as a Petroleum Geologist in London and is a member of Clapham Chasers. “There is a great set-up at Clapham Chasers, it’s a really friendly club with lots of great training sessions, and I am constantly surrounded by high achieving athletes which is very inspirational.” 

 

Also heading out to Chicago as chief supporter will be husband/Dad Dave, with brother/son Stuart staying home to look after the dairy farm. Their plans for Chicago:

Anna: “To race to the best of my ability and put in a performance to be proud of whilst soaking up the atmosphere and supporting my Mum and the rest of Clapham Chasers who are racing, there are about 20 of us in total representing GB.” 

Roe: “Try not to be too nervous, do as well as I can and support everyone else especially Anna and other members of Chester Tri Club.” 

They’re both looking forward to celebrating afterwards with family and club mates, with a few of the infamous Chicago pizzas and beers.

 

They’ve both had some great support in the build up to Chicago with Anna helped along the way by coaches Carlos Glencairn-Campbell (Active8), Pat Leahy (Pro-VO2 and Pedal Studio), Andrew Potter (T3 Performance), Tim George (iTRIwithTIM) and Dan Holmes (Profile PT), as well as anyone who has led a Clapham Chasers training session. Anna is sponsored by ERC Equipoise and Health Rewards Vitality.

Roe is very thankful to the coaches at Chester Triathlon Club as they have helped her enormously with her swimming and she also thoroughly enjoys attending the Parkrun in Delamere Forest most Saturday mornings. Roe is sponsored by Muller Wiseman and The Wellcome Trust.

 

Interview by Dana Voysey, from Clapham Chasers and part of the London Region Media Team. You can follow Dana on twitter @danavoysey