This week is National Volunteers week so we are recognising volunteering in Triathlon.
Name: Jim Lafferty (pictured back rown second from left, with the hat on)
Volunteer Role: Secretary to Sheffield Triathlon Club
Favorite Discipline of Triathlon? Swim, Bike or Run? Swim - not built to run. Or cycle!
Doing lots of OW swimming this year in preparation for a Channel Relay in June. My wetsuit has yet to be used, and lowest temperature was 3.6! Last weekend was 65 minutes I’m sub 13 degrees in the sea in Dover.
Favorite Food ? Eggs Benedict
Favorite Holiday Destination? Anywhere sunny with a nice pool, sea swims and some cycling. Vassiliki in Greece, and Zadar in Croatia tick all the boxes.
How long have you been volunteering in Triathlon? 3rd year on the committee of Sheffield Triathlon Club. I helped out prior to the formal role at Club events where possible.
What does your volunteering role entail?
· I take the minutes from our committee meetings and prepare agendas.
· Booking venues for club events.
· Co-ordinating the running of the Hathersage Hilly Triathlon.
· Club and individual registrations with BTF and EA, assisting our membership secretary.
· Moving Club equipment around.
· Liaising with the committee so that our club members are informed of what is coming up.
· Preparing the club for TriClub Mark accreditation.
· I did the Triathlon Activator course last week too!
What is most rewarding from your volunteer role?
Running club events. Our club committee changed almost completely in 2017 - I was the only committee member retained. We have thus had to run our own internal events (4 winter aquathons, 4 spring Duathlons and our upcoming summer aquathons, not having run events before. We also have the small matter of taking over the running of the Hathersage Hilly Triathlon for 365 competitors in July.
What is your motivation to volunteer in Triathlon?
Club events won’t happen without volunteers, and I was extremely keen to ensure that Sheffield Triathlon Club, established in 1986, did not fold, and the classic Hathersage Hilly would be a great loss to the local triathlon scene. It is a great first event, and we get many Triathlon novices enter each year, joint the wonderful world of Triathlon. I get to see our members test themselves and see their obvious joy (and pain!).
As a volunteer in triathlon, what have you been most pleased with/greatest success?
I have watched our new committee members move through the various stages from nervous starters to confident event organisers, working outside their comfort zones and acquiring new skills. We have also been ably assisted by numerous club members who have given us their experience and expertise, joining our group of volunteers and lightening the load on the committee.
How could a volunteer make a difference to the sport of Triathlon?
Most Triathlons won’t happen without a large number of volunteers, and the running of clubs and Club events will struggle without their essential help. Seeing club mates train, compete, complete and occasionally PB is surprisingly gratifying. It extends your social circle, and you get to meet interesting kindred spirits!
