After revealing the regional winners for the 2024 Triathlon England Awards, it’s now time to turn the spotlight onto the national winners. Each week until Wednesday 8 May we’ll be revealing two award winners.
This week we want to congratulate Duncan Hough, the 2024 Outstanding Contribution Award winner and Swim Bike Run Mini, Chichester Triathlon Club – the first national Swim Bike Run Opportunity of the Year.
Outstanding Contribution Award – Duncan Hough
The Triathlon England Outstanding Contribution Award recognises individuals, clubs, or organisations whose long-term dedication and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on the sport. This award acknowledges individuals and groups that have made a sustained impact to the sport, whether as coaches, volunteers or event organisers.
This year’s winner, Duncan Hough, has been involved in the sport for over 30 years, first as a participant representing the British Age-Group team at World and European championships, before supporting the sport as a volunteer.
He started out as a local Technical Official and has worked his way up to the highest level and as an International Technical Official for World Triathlon. As well as holding the role of Technical Official he has been a Technical Delegate and Head Referee for various international events and this summer will be Head Referee at the Paralympic Games. He uses his experiences to support officials within the UK, passing on his learnings to help them improve and provide athletes with the best experiences possible.
Duncan, alongside running his own business, was heavily involved in planning the triathlon course used at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, working with directly with the Games’ organising committee. He returned to the local triathlon community to share his experiences and learnings, helping to deliver local events.
He also has vast coaching experience and is a Level 3 Coach. As a coach, he has been involved in delivering a wide range of sessions including teaching children to swim and encouraging them to get involved in fitness and exercise, as well as encouraging women to get involved in open water swimming, through creating an inclusive environment.
A staple in the local triathlon community, he has also held voluntary roles at both a national and international level, including Chair of BRAT Club (Birmingham Running Athletics and Triathlon Club), Triathlon England Board Director of Events, Rules and Technical, West Midlands Regional Committee, British Triathlon Federation (BTF) Technical Committee, World Triathlon Multisport Committee and currently World Triathlon Women's Committee.
A deserved winner, Duncan Hough demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting people within the triathlon community be it as a coach, an official or when organising events.
If you want to follow in Duncan’s footsteps and support the triathlon community as a coach or official, we offer a wide range of courses. Click below to book.
Swim Bike Run Opportunity of the Year – Swim Bike Run Mini, Chichester Triathlon Club
Launched in July 2023, the Swim Bike Run programme is for people looking to build their confidence and move more, either on their own or with friends and family – there’s something for everyone! This award celebrates events that have supported people to take their first steps within the sport and helped make that experience as fun and welcoming as possible.
This year’s winner is the Swim, Bike, Run Mini held by Chichester Triathlon Club. The event ran by the club was part of its Active Inclusivity agenda, its way of taking the club into the wider community to help benefit physical and mental health of people of all ages and abilities.
While the event was organised by Nicky McCulloch (Head Junior Coach) and Neil Bradfield (Club Secretary) it was a whole club effort to put the event on with coaches and members volunteering across the event, including handing out medals, providing a coffee van, supporting participants across the course and cheering them on.
The club was also supported by Everyone Active at Westgate Leisure Centre, who provided goody bags for everyone involved.
On the day, 108 people took part in the event, including families with children as young as six years old, many of them taking part in the sport for the first time. Some of those were nervous and scared but thanks to the fantastic support of the volunteers they were able to overcome their fears be it on the swim, bike or run part of the course.
Following the event the club had amazing feedback, with people thanking them for running the event, supporting them through it and creating a welcoming environment for them to give the sport a go.
As a club Chichester Triathlon Club aims to try and help make triathlon inclusive and accessible to everyone and they did just that with their Swim Bike Run Mini, which makes them worthy winners of the first ever Swim Bike Run Opportunity of the Year award.
If you’re looking to give triathlon a go for the first time or are just looking for a fun and inclusive event near you, check out our Swim Bike Run events below.
