Miscellaneous notices and information

We are holding a Triathlon Taster Day at Top Barn Farm, Holt Heath on Saturday 1st May. The event will be open to anyone who is interested in trying the sport of triathlon. There will be a session for juniors (aged 8-15) from 11.00am-1.00pm and a session for adults (age 16+) from 2.00-4.00pm. The cost is only £3.00 per head.
The training will cater for all levels of ability and participants just need to bring a bike, helmet, drink and pair of running shoes. Adults will need a road-worthy bike and juniors should bring a mountain bike. The junior sessions will be based entirely off-road, while the adult biking will be on-road but the running will be off-road.
The club aim to offer a friendly atmosphere for those interested in taking up the sport. There has been a flourishing junior section of the club running at Top Barn for the last year, offering bike and run technique sessions as well as endurance and speed work. Club Juniors coach Rachel Ward commented:
‘Recently the juniors have enjoyed a Hash run (following a flour trail) and an Easter egg treasure hunt. Since having Steve Lumley as our new Level 3 Head Coach we have been able to offer more structured sessions and we are always keen to welcome new members’.
Worcester Triathlon Club also hold weekly swim sessions, taking place at New College Worcester on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and at Sansome Walk on a Saturday, which prospective new members are also very welcome to attend. More details can be found on the club website.

Most of our New Year’s resolutions involve joining the gym or shedding a few pounds. One Worcester man though, has taken New Year’s resolutions to a new level in taking on a monumental personal ’20:20’ challenge. Neill Crump, of Worcester Triathlon Club, has set himself the target of completing twenty gruelling sports events in a year – in remembrance of his father, Tony, who passed away twenty years ago from MS. His target is to raise £1500 for the MS Society.
The twenty events include running a marathon for the first time, trying out multi-terrain and fell running, completing a half ironman and finishing the ‘Escape from Alcatraz’ triathlon. A 3 mile open water swim and a duathlon also feature in Neill’s busy schedule which will see him racing almost once a fortnight.
Neill’s personal challenge is even more extraordinary given that nine months ago his exercise regime consisted of a cigarette and a few pints! Aiming to improve his health and fitness, Neill joined Worcester Triathlon Club and with the support of the club entered several local running and triathlon events in 2009.
Neill said: 'I am looking to get so much from this 20:20 year – to help raise funds for the MS Society, meet new friends, have some fun, get fitter, and have a chance to associate all of these great things with my Dad'. 
'Worcester Triathlon Club’s support has been top-notch in terms of facilities and the actual training sessions themselves.  The encouragement and friendly advice from other club members has been just as important as you gain so much from their experiences.'
Neill made a flying start to his campaign racing in the Worcester Winter Aquathlon on 3rd January. In icy temperatures he finished a strong 13th overall, also helping Worcester Triathlon Club to the team prize. He also completed the ‘Not the Roman IX’ – 12km road race in Stratford last weekend. His next event will be the ‘May Hill Massacre’ on 7th February, an 8.75 mile off road race which promises over 1000 foot of climbing and a ‘sting in the tail!’
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Neill’s personal 20:20 challenge can visit his website: www.neillcrump.com. The website lists all of the events and sponsorship information and has a blog with updates on Neill’s progress.

Worcester Triathlon Club has named Steve Lumley as its new Head Coach. Steve has over twenty years experience in the sport, including as an ‘Ironman’ himself no less than thirty times and as a professional triathlon coach for twelve years. He has coached national youth, junior, student, elite and age group winners, notably elite British Triathlete and World U23 silver medallist Jodie Stimpson. He is also British Triathlon’s longest serving coach educator and assessor.
His new role will include delivering coaching sessions, developing a coaching strategy for the club, mentoring the club’s team of coaches and running triathlon taster and coaching days. He is excited to be appointed and believes his vast amount of experience in the sport means he is very well placed to support the future development of the club and make a strong impact on the coaching programme:
"I am very excited to be working with Worcester Triathlon Club and it’s refreshing that clubs are investing in the junior side of the sport. I look forward to getting the ball rolling in the new year and will be aiming to get an overall strategy for junior coaching in place as a first priority".
Worcester Triathlon Club Chairman Duncan Jenkins is delighted to welcome the Club’s first Head Coach on board:
"We’re delighted to welcome a coach of Steve’s pedigree to the club. His appointment underlines our long-term commitment to the sport and builds on our 20 year history of supporting triathletes of all ages and abilities. Triathlon is about achieving personal goals, whether that’s representing your country or finishing your first event. Having a good coaching set up is a key part of this process."
Worcester Triathlon Club welcomes new members of any ages and abilities. Anyone interested in joining the club should contact the Club Membership Secretary Simeon Chapman at sim.chapman@tiscali.co.uk who will be able to provide further information.

As you should already know, the Club’s Annual General Meeting is to take place on Thursday 19th November 2009 from 1830 – 2000hrs at Peopleton Village Hall, Peopleton.
To encourage more paid up Members to attend this important event, the Committee has decided to provide a free dinner to all members who make the effort to attend the AGM beforehand.
The normal meal cost is £10 for starter + main courses and you pay for your drinks.
The dinner will be at The Crown Inn, Main Street, Peopleton, at 2000hrs (yes – directly after the AGM) which is just a short distance from the Village Hall.  Some of you will remember the very enjoyable evening we had at the same venue on Wednesday 15th July – the food is excellent as is the beer!
The maximum number of persons they can accommodate is 35 so this is on a “first come first served” basis.  Please contact Les by e-mail or mobile 07976 894997 by Sunday evening 8th November 2009 if you wish to attend the AGM and receive a free dinner.  If the full quota of 35 places is not taken up by that date, then partners may come for the dinner at a cost of £10.
Contact ASAP please!

Date: Sunday the 15th November, 2009
Time: 10am to 4pm including lunch
Venue: Abberley Village Hall

RACHEL AND MIKE WARD would like to invite you to a fund-raising walk/jog/run/hash around Abberley Village on the above date. All ages and dogs welcome, the latter on leads.
Lunch to be served back at the Village Hall.
Rachel is aiming to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre, the charity for which she has run four successive London Marathons so far and with the 2010 event to look forward to.
So please come along for the fun and sponsor Rachel on November 15, rather than bring flowers, chocs or wine.  Any donation, however small, will be gratefully received.
RSVP
Eardiston View,  Menith Wood, WR6 6UD.  Tel: 01584 881423
Or email: Rachel or Mike