This week is National Volunteers week so we are recognising volunteering in Triathlon.
Name: Mark Summerson
Volunteer Role: Regional Chair, Junior Series CoOrdinator and Yorkshire Talent Squad Coach
Favourite Discipline of Triathlon? Swim, Bike or Run? Living in Yorkshire, it has to be the bike
Favourite Food? You can’t beat a good bowl of porridge to kick off a day, I keep experimenting with different fruits/nuts/seeds to go with it
Favourite Holiday Destination?
I’m a bit boring as I go back to La Manga in Spain every summer, we have several friends with families that do the same, so we have a ready made holiday party! There’s also loads of trail running, cycling, swimming & and even a Velodrome, so I can squeeze in some training too.
How long have you been volunteering in Triathlon?
6 years since I started coaching the Junior section at Leeds Bradford Triathlon Club
What does your volunteering role entail?
The role of Chair is largely one of coordinating direction and co-ordination. We align regional initiatives with BTF’s ambitions to increase participation and become the best nation for triathlon. These include things such as the junior races, coach education, regional academy, regional championships etc. If I’m honest, the people on the committee responsible for each of the above do more work than I do as the Chair! I’ve also held onto a role I had last year, as Junior Race Series Coordinator, which works with both BTF and the region’s clubs to put on a season’s worth of races for children between 8 & 16.
What is most rewarding from your volunteer role?
One of the initiatives we kicked off in Yorkshire this year was the Yorkshire Talent Squad, I can’t claim credit for the idea as that came from the Regional Academy head and the Leeds Triathlon Centre, but we are broadening the talent pool for young triathletes by taking high performance swimmers, without any background in multi-sport and coaching them into Triathlon. We’ve had a squad of athletes who started in October last year having never ridden a bike or run competitively and have gradually watched them develop to a point that they are now taking podium positions in Duathlons. Where there is no swim!! Seeing that improvement and then enjoying Triathlon is hugely rewarding.
What is your motivation to volunteer in Triathlon?
It’s a sport that has helped me from a health perspective, the coaching work I’ve done I think helps me be a better person & it’s one I’ve watched my own kids thoroughly enjoy. So that motivates me to give back. I see many members of the committee are in similar positions, it’s such a positive sport, I just wish I’d found it earlier!
As a volunteer in triathlon, what have you been most pleased with/greatest success?
Definitely the Yorkshire Talent Squad. Very proud of the progress they have all made.
How could a volunteer make a difference to the sport of Triathlon?
Everybody that donates even an hour of their time is making a difference. If people didn’t give up an hour of their time to Marshall a junior race for example, we’d have no junior races. If we have no races, we have no talent pool and no elites winning Olympic medals. Likewise, the same goes for GoTri, Club races and every aspect of Club & Regional Triathlon. And you don’t need any experience to hand out water bottles or Marshall a run course, just a big smile as people run past!
