The Triathlon England Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Aimee Stocker. Aimee has been volunteering in the sport for three years. Aimee is a member of Spalding Tri Club and has been instrumental in the club’s development and successful Starmark and Clubmark accreditation. 

 

Aimee is a Regional Technical Official and level 1 triathlon coach regularly supporting local events and novice training sessions. Aimee also organised the Spalding Sprint Triathlon, a successful event that has achieved the Triathlon England Event Qualitymark. Aimee also holds a position on the East Midlands Regional Committee. 

 

Aimee commented: “I joined the triathlon club, on the understanding that I wouldn’t be doing triathlons. Eight weeks later I had a bike on order and I was in the pool. The rest is history.”

 

The Triathlon England Coach of the Year award went to Andrew Bullock, who has been a triathlon coach for ten years. Andrew is a level 3 triathlon coach and is also qualified as a British Triathlon Coach Educator. Based in the South West, Andrew is Head Coach of Bristol and District Triathletes, with one of his key achievements growing the coaching staff at the club from four people, eight years ago to a growing team of over 20 coaches delivering 18 sessions a week for club members.

 

Andrew added: “I started when I was at Loughborough University; I joined the triathlon club, enjoyed what was happening there and wanted to get more involved, so I started doing my coaching qualification. [Since the Olympic Games] the junior section of my club has almost doubled in size.”

 

The Triathlon England Official of the Year award went to Sarah Taylor, who is a qualified Continental Technical Official. Sarah is the West Midlands Regional Officials Coordinator and a member of the Triathlon England Events, Rules and Technical sub-committee.

 

In addition to supporting local events, Sarah is regularly in action herself working as a Technical Official at many events including the GE Canary Wharf Triathlon as well as officiating abroad for the International Triathlon Union. The highlight for Sarah in 2012 was being named one of the ten National Technical Officials at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

 

Commenting on her experience at the Olympics, Sarah said: “It was absolutely amazing, I just didn’t realise I’d actually been there until it was all finished and completed. I actually held the finishing line tape for the men’s and women’s [triathlon] and to have Alistair go through that tape as I’m holding it was just a brilliant experience.”

 

The Triathlon England Event of the Year was won by Crystal Palace Triathlon. The event provides a safe and fair environment where all competitors can take part and achieve their goals. The event strives to make novices feel comfortable and encourages them to take up the sport of triathlon after having such a good first experience.

 

In 2012, the event increased capacity to 750 adults and 240 juniors, whilst the entry fee has remained unchanged for three years. 

 

The Crystal Palace Triathlon is also carbon neutral ensuring that the event is consistently looking at ways to deliver a greener and more environmentally friendly event.