This week is National Volunteers week and would also have been the build up to the A J Bell World Triathlon Leeds, so this week we are recognising and saying thank you to our wonderful GO TRI Leeds Ambassadors.

Name: Gareth Allen

Volunteer Role: GO TRI Coach and Ambassador

Favourite Discipline of Triathlon? Swim, Bike or Run? That’s like asking which is my favourite child!

Favourite Food?  Peanut Butter on Soreen!

Favourite Holiday Destination?  Anywhere I can ride my bike.

How long have you been volunteering in Triathlon?  Eight years.

What does your volunteering role entail? I help newcomers to our sport to learn how it works, put them at ease and fall in love with triathlon. I am also a coach with Wakefield Triathlon Club, and coach weekly group sessions for our members.

What is most rewarding from your volunteer role? Seeing people develop and improve. Watching sport become part of their life, and improve their health and mental well being.

What is your motivation to volunteer in Triathlon? I love sharing my passion with other people. It’s great for my social life too!

As a volunteer in triathlon, what have you been most pleased with/greatest success?  Seeing the growth of the GO TRI movement in Leeds over the last four years has been wonderful. So many new people trying out our sport, swimming in the lake, riding their bikes.

How could a volunteer make a difference to the sport of Triathlon?  The whole sport runs on the goodwill and mutual support of its participants. We all support each other, and volunteering at events to help make that happen is just one small part of it.