In August 2020 when lockdown restrictions in Kent and across the South East of England had been relaxed, Kristian Horne reached out to the local online community to search out the interest in a triathlon club and Thanet Tri Club are now looking ahead to their first year of racing.
“Thanet is such an ideal location for a tri club,” Horne commented. “The open water swimming facilities, brilliant road and track routes - it felt like the perfect place to get a small club going.
“I took up triathlons about six years ago having been persuaded to enter Whitstable’s Oysterman. From that moment on, I was totally hooked, the only thing missing was a local club to join with the nearest being Deal.
“I decided to canvas the local Facebook groups and see if there might be support. We had around 70 people register interest, and we went from there.”
Unfortunately for the club, as restrictions and lockdowns returned, in-person gatherings as a club have been limited with the newly formed Thanet Tri Club joining the rest of the triathlon community online.
“It [lockdown] has certainly provided us with challenges and slowed down our plans to develop training sessions, which is frustrating,” Horne added.
“Given the continuing and varying restrictions, in-person meet ups have been few and far between. Our club secretary has done a brilliant job in setting up twice weekly Zwift sessions, and open water swim sessions in Margate's Walpole tidal pool have been a hit.
“We've established a great online community on our Facebook page and club site and enjoy welcoming anyone interested in joining the club or finding out more about triathlon.
“I've been really struck by everyone's continued enthusiasm though, despite the club being set up in the middle of a pandemic. We've got a brilliant little community already, and the members have helped boost each other with online challenges, planning future races, and generally chatting away. They're a very friendly bunch!”
With the UK Government announcing their roadmap out of lockdown restrictions, Horne and the club are planning their own ‘re-emergence plan’ and have applied to the Triathlon England and Triathlon Trust Club Support Fund as part of The Big Reboot campaign.
“We are a small but very enthusiastic club, and already have lots planned for when lockdown restrictions are lifted,” Horne said.
“Our first point of action will be to set a more diverse training schedule for our members - we're hoping to get a couple more of our members onto coaching courses, and to get the club represented at some local races.
“Beyond that, we'd love to establish and host a race in Thanet - we think we have the perfect spot! We’ve applied to the club fund for a grant to use towards securing an indoor swim venue and subsidising triathlon coaching courses we want to get some of our members on to.”
The Big Reboot campaign is British Triathlon and the Home Nation’s initiative to support triathlon as restrictions across the UK are eased. The campaign will support all aspects of the sport and you can find out more by clicking on the button below.
