This month we visit Tri Surrey to learn a little more about this busy and dynamic club based in Sanderstead and Reigate.

One detail that is noticeable of the clubs we’ve covered in this Bio feature is their age. They are all young clubs (all under 4 so far). Whilst Triathlon is surely no longer a young sport, there are seemingly always new individuals being attracted into the sport after exposure via increased television coverage and potentially still the ‘Olympic effect’ which have both rolled along since 2012 and it is those clubs, founded on this increased appeal which are becoming the largest, most active and progressive in the region.

From this, I welcome Tri Surrey to the Bio Series. As hinted above and as the name suggests they are a Surrey based club founded in 2012. Unusually for a club in our region, however, they work out of two training hubs; Sanderstead and Reigate, which are 14 miles apart.

The founding members of Tri Surrey, Matt Hutchings, Jonathan Wilden and Ken Kennison, all who live in the Surrey Hills area knew that if they gave people the opportunity and made it accessible to all, many would jump at the chance to get involved and become triathletes. Thanks to the support of Triathlon England the club is already 150 members strong and due to the split locations the training sessions are plentiful and so are the coaches, with 10 BTF qualified coaches sharing the coaching duties and more working through their qualifications currently.

Their aspirations are to see members of Tri Surrey take part in events across the country, building the reputation of the club and giving more and more people of all abilities the opportunity to take part in multisport events across all distances. Whether you want to swim, open water swim with more confidence, ride faster, run further or just improve all three disciplines, there is a positive belief that they’re the club to help you with these challenges.

What is also positive to see for such a young club is that they have the social side nailed too, with all members invited to travel with the club every year to Les Stables in France for a week long training camp and well as the more accessible social events/BBQ’s for members in the area.

“We have built our club around the core values of ‘participation’, ‘endeavour’ and ‘enjoyment’. These values are the foundation upon which we operate as we seek to get people of all abilities and experiences involved. Encouraging one another through a feeling of community and togetherness so that we never give up while having as much fun as possible.” Ken Kennison.

Friday is the only day of the week there isn’t an organised club session. Whilst long we felt it was worthy to list just how many sessions Tri Surrey offer:

- Every week kicks off with the track session at Woodcote School.

- Tuesday’s in the summer see the open water sessions return at Mercer Lake, Merstham

- Wednesday’s become a take your pick day with the club offering pool sessions in Redhill and at Croydon Sports Club in Selsdon, as well as spin session at Donyngs, after the swim with a run session before swim at Croydon Sports Club

- Thursday is the day for club road/trail runs from both Reigate & Sanderstead

- Saturday, club runs are organised and the club regularly assists at Park Runs in both Reigate & Riddlesdown

- Sunday - April to October, more open water swimming at Mercer Lake as well as club rides from both Sanderstead & Reigate.

As well as all that,  the club runs pool based and an open water Aquathlon’s for members and they now have 2 full triathlons scheduled for later in the season!

If you would like your club Bio to be featured or if you feel you have any interesting stories/information you’d like highlighted within the South East region please email Graham.