2 minute read
Canterbury Triathlon Club
by TQ.kiwi
Clubrooms
Waltham Pool, Waltham Rd, Christchurch
Membership 152 canterburytriclub.co.nz
CanterburyTriClub
Key Contacts:
President Ken O’Rourke (0278 585 589) Coaches John Newsom, Craig Moore, Kylie Cox, Hayden Beetar Event Director John Newsom
What makes your club special? Canterbury Tri Club has a long history of success across all levels of triathlon and duathlon, from juniors, age groupers to elite with Birmingham
Commonwealth Games rep Andrea Hansen (nee Hewitt) our most recent senior elite.
We also have athletes regularly competing overseas and the club produced some outstanding results at November’s World Triathlon Age Group Championship in Abu Dhabi.
We’re a very inclusive club which provides top quality training, coaching and a range of interesting and challenging events for all ages and stages in our sport. We also boast the Canterbury Triathlon Academy which provides a pathway to juniors wanting to pursue a career in our sport.
What does a normal week look like for members?
Monday - Run coaching and training (John Newsom )
Wednesday - Swim training (Craig Moore)
Thursday - Indoor cycling on Stages bikes provided by Tri NZ (John Newsom and Hayden Beetar)
Thursday - Junior training over Summer (Kylie Cox, Hayden Beetar)
Saturday - Informal club group rides and ocean swims including our annual Christmas Day swim at Corsair Bay which includes Christmas Carols from the swimming raft! Sunday - Junior training over Summer and occasional group rides.
What are your big races each year? Oxman (Mid Distance, Aquabike, Sprint distance, Multisport race, Duathlon, Junior race and run only race); Pak n Save Tri Festival (Sprint distance, Aquabike, Duathlon, Canterbury Secondary Schools Tri Championships, Junior race, Try a Tri/Du, Kids race); Canterbury Classic (Suzuki NZ Sth Island Standard Distance Tri/Du/Aquabike Championships, Short Course Tri, Youth/Kids Aquathon ); Sea2Sky Challenge (Sprint distance with hilly bike and run, Trail run race, Try a Tri/ Du, Junior Tri/Du, Kids Aquathon).
If there is one race out-of-towners should target it has to be?
The Sea2Sky Challenge has some of the best scenery (see main image) you will find anywhere. From the adrenaline pumping swim in the surf at Scarborough to the big bike climb up to Godley Head in the Port Hills, then the stunning run along the coastal cliffs back to Scarborough. It’ll literally “take your breath away”!
What are you doing to grow junior participation? We have a junior coaching programme that runs over the Summer with coaching/training on Thursday and Sundays organised and run by Kylie Cox, Hayden Beetar and John Newsom. We also run the Canterbury Primary Schools Tri/Du Championships in conjunction with Primary School Sport Canterbury.
The Canterbury Triathlon Academy (CTA) is an integral part of the club and provides exclusive training/coaching to a range of U20s to set them on the pathway to becoming professional athletes. CTA has its own coaches and is coordinated by Tess Mattern (assisted by Sam Petty) with its own committee and a representative who is on the main club board.
A couple of junior’s we should keep tabs on? Henry McMecking and Ben Airey are two of our young athletes to watch. Henry was part of the NZ Junior Mixed Relay team in Montreal in 2022 and they both raced for NZ in the Australian Junior Championships in Werribee, Victoria last year.
FROM TOP: Ken O’Rourke; John Newsom; Paul Howells; Ben Airey; Henry McMecking
OPPOSITE PAGE: Nigel Beardsle
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Who are the club members who epitomise all that is great about your club and triathlon?
Nigel Beardsley is a stalwart of Canterbury Tri Club who competes, sponsors gear, stores gear and is always helping at events. He also organises and encourages club group activities.
Nigel epitomises the term “club legend” .
Paul Howells is a hardworking club member who competes regularly in addition to always helping at events. You see our Bike Director and his big blue ute at nearly all our events, setting up and then “sweeping” the bike course.
John Newsom is our superstar Event Director who ensures all our events are top class. Even during Covid when many other events were being cancelled, John always found a way to make them happen to the enjoyment of all who compete. A top athlete in his own right and co-host of the excellent IM Talk podcast. Check it out.
