Holmfirth Harriers Triathlon Page.

Welcome to the Triathlon section of Holmfirth Harriers.  This section started in 2005 and has steadily grown in size since.

2009 is currently our best year for both our Junior and Senior Triathletes, winning many of our individual Age Groups at races throughout the Region.

It is down to the hard work of Holmfirth Harriers and our coaches that have got us into this strong position and we hope to use this as a springboard for future success.

Triathlon is one of the countries fastest growing sports and we are committed to ensuring that there is a warm welcome for new athletes of all ages and abilities (it really doesn’t matter if you can’t swim as many of our new starters couldn’t either when they started – me included/especially).

I hope that you find this page useful, and hope to add more throughout the season, until then, I hope you all enjoy your racing and achieve your goals.

Andrew Kerry
Triathlon Coordinator

So what is a TRIATHLON? –tri meaning three is a good clue. There are 3 disciplines in triathlon SWIMMING, CYCLING AND RUNNING all done following each other with no gaps only TRANSITION – the fourth discipline. Transition is where you leave your swimming cap, goggles and wet suit (if it has been an open water swim) and where you get your bike, helmet, sunglasses, cycling shoes and number plus whatever else you need i.e. socks,t shirt etc and off you go on your cycling bit then back to transition to leave your bike, helmet, cycling shoes etc and put on your running shoes ready for the last bit – the run!! That's it in a nutshell – but there is really so much more. It really is GREAT FUN!!

Want to know more? Contact any of the coaches and they will be happy to point you in the right direction. Or you can email our Triathlon Coordinator Andrew Kerry. Also check out our latest newsletter for more info on what we have been up to. There are many races over the year for all abilities and ages. The triathlon family is very friendly and you will be made welcome at all events.

How do I become a Holmfirth Harriers Triathlon member? That’s simple, already a member of Holmfirth Harriers? Then you are automatically a member of HH Triathlon! Or to join Holmfirth Harriers please visit the home page and click on New Members to find more details on how to join and fees.

How do I train to become a triathlete? At Holmfirth Harriers we meet on a Tuesday and Thursday for running training. Depending on your ability there is a group you can run with and help you improve. Out of season many of our triathletes are very active with their running and take part in Cross Country and Fell races. These are open to juniors and adults and is fantastic training. Swimming at the moment is at Holmfirth Pool on various days. Over the summer we hold run/bike training and over the winter indoor turbo training. See the table below for all our up to date training times.

Latest News:

• Harmonie takes GB Crown!!
• National Team Relays 2009
• Yorkshire & Humberside Triathlon Series Results 2009

Training:

Yorkshire & Humberside Triathlon Series Results 2009

Harmonie takes GB Crown!!



Congratutations to the 4 Holmfirth Harriers who competeted last Sunday
as part of the Yorkshire and Humberside team at the Interegional
Championships (the triathlon intercountries) in Wales. Harmonie Waterman
competing in the Tristar 2 age group (11 and 12 year olds) won the gold
medal in a hard fought race against the best in Great Britain. Rebecca
Addy (tristar3),Lewis Byram (Tristar2) and Emily Harris (Youth) were our
other Y & H team counters - well done to all of them.

The British Triathlon Inter Regional Championships took place at Parc Bryn Bach in South Wales on the 13 th September. We were very proud to have four children from Holmfirth Harriers take part in the prestigious event. They gained their place on the team of 14 by finishing in the top spots of the Yorkshire & Humberside Junior Triathlon Series, 6 races held over the summer. In Tristar 2 (11-12year olds) were Harmonie Waterman and Lewis Byram. Tristar 3 (13-14year olds) was represented by Rebecca Addy and Emily Harris represented the region in the Youth age group (15-16year olds).

The clear blue skies over Wales and sunshine made this a very special day for all who competed in the championship and supporters alike. The race was over the Tristar distances but included an open water swim which is unusual at this level.

All the Holmfirth Harriers put in superb performances with Harmonie gaining maximum points in the first race for the girls in Tristar 2 even after taking a fall going into transition 2. Lewis having a good swim was ill on the bike and disappointed not to be able to put in his usual outstanding performance. However he gained valuable points for the team along with Tristar 3’s Rebecca who put in a tremendous performance throughout gaining positions on the final run leg.

Going into the last two events the region was in 3 rd place and therefore expectations were already high. Emily Harris at the youngest end of her age group put in a sterling effort and gaining valuable places and therefore points on the bike leg for the team. Overall we had 3 podium finishes and high finishes throughout the age groups.

Flying the flag with pride Lewis Byram, Rebecca Addy with double gold medallist Harmonie Waterman and Emily Harris.

National Team Relays 2009

Saturday 22 August saw two Triathlon teams from Holmfirth Harriers take the relatively short trip to the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepoint in Nottingham to undertake the National Club Relays. In all 460 teams took part in the event over the two races morning and afternoon.

Despite several members of these intrepid teams nursing injuries sustained after a long, hard and overall successful season hopes were high that at the very least they would all enjoy themselves.

This race is billed as “Probably the best club event in the world and was voted in 2007 as “Race of the Year” and the atmosphere was electric. Racing against the top triathletes in the country, of which many represent GB at international level, our two teams put in great performances.

Our teams were both racing in the morning and consisted of a Male Vets team – Steve Rimmer, John Levick, Wayne Byram and Andy France, together with a mixed team of Gavin Pilkington, Debbie Byram, Andy Smithson and Jackie France.

The swim was a hectic affair and first to lead their respective teams were Steve and Gavin, usually at the front of any race Steve was a little surprised to find that he wasn’t in the top 10 out of the water, that is testimony to the quality of the athletes competing, that said Steve swam his 400m in a very good 7:42.

Each athlete managed to pass their “baton” timing chip onto their next team member, without any major incident, this again is not easy when there are over 230 teams competing at once.

Next was the bike leg – 3 laps round the Lake and this proved to be where our teams came into their own and the Male Vets steadily passed other competitors to finish their bike legs in a top 20 position.  Both teams enjoyed themselves in the great conditions, sunny and relatively calm and making a change from usual training routes a very flat and fast course. 

It was then onto the 1 lap 5k run and being a team of Holmfirth Harriers this is our traditional strength.  Again the vets made excellent progress, Steve moved up into 17 th place and John then took the team into 15 th place which Wayne and Andy managed to maintain, despite some excellent runners.  The Male Vets were 15 th overall in the morning and 2 nd in their category.  With more Male Vet teams to race in the afternoon, they didn’t know their overall position but ended up in a very respectable 13 th place – A great showing in their first attempt at this prestigious event. 

The mixed team had rather more competition with several professional athletes also racing in mixed teams.  In addition to that both Debbie and Jackie actually had their first open water swims and for Jackie it was her 1 st Triathlon!

Overall the Male Vets finished in 13 th place with a time of 3:28:56. The Mixed team were 57 th with a time of 3:58.53.

Despite it being hectic and ever so slightly stressful, both the teams finished with big smiles on their faces and ready to tuck into their picnics. A great way to cap what has been a great season for all of Holmfirth harriers Triathletes.

Andrew Kerry