Wednesday, 22 June 2011 18:23
Challenger World UK Tri Team launches
The Challenger World UK Tri Team formally launched to the public today, but since its soft launch more than a month ago the Team, an evolution of the Team TBC SportsAid has seen great success with results including Lois Rosindale winning the British Elite Championships at the Windsor Triathlon and 2 selections for the European Senior Championships.
The Challenger World UK Tri Team launched today, evolving from Team TBC SportsAid and Team ActivInstinct previously. The team consisting of 10 athletes and 5 support staff is being supported primarily by Challenger World UK, organisers of top UK and International Triathlon, Cycling and Running events including the Virgin Active London Triathlon, GE Blenheim Triathlon and many more.
James Robinson, MD of Challenger World comments “As part of our commitment to developing the sports within which we operate our business, we are proud to be supporting a team which aims to develop the sport of triathlon’s future stars across all distances. We are also hugely enthused that many of the sponsors of our UK based triathlon events and some fantastic other organisations have got involved with the team to help make this possible.”
The team is enthusiastically supported by:
51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences - Official Hotel partner
Asics - Footwear and training wear
Evans - Bicycle and Retail partner (supplying Litespeed road bikes, QR time trial bikes and Louis Garneau helmets and shoes plus Evans servicing and support)
Gatorade - Sports drink
Maxifuel - Sports Nutrition
Profeet - Performance Gains and Injury Prevention partner
Speedo - Wetsuit, swim equipment and Goggles
Timex - Timing and Data equipment
Wings Transport - Logistical support
Challenger World’s support is fundamental to the team, and will enable a unique commercial programme to be launched to help raise the near six figure sum of running costs. This programme of support will be launched next week. Additionally, it also allows for a title sponsor or co-title sponsors to be sought for the team.
The team, is a professional development team, which aims to help nurture talented athletes wanting to make the leap from amateur to professional, whether they are talented juniors just below the funded Olympic performance programme or age groupers that have come to the sport late but have the promise to be top UK and international professionals. The team develops both Olympic distance, and also non Olympic talent – aiming for success in triathlon, duathlon, Ironman and 70.3 events.
The team has existed in the past as www.teamtbcsportsaid.com and has seen huge success in its first two years, graduating Phil Graves to the professional Ironman echelon (following two Ironman and 70.3 wins), and has had athletes win 4 World and European championship medals as juniors and U23 (Triathlon and Duathlon), score multiple ITU points race podiums and win key UK races such as the Windsor Triathlon and take an Ironman podium.
The team line up contains athletes competing on the global ITU, Ironman and top level domestic scene, a full list is below, though a few highlight results for 2011 include:
· Lois Rosindale – WINNER TOSHIBA WINDSOR TRIATHLON
· Lois Rosindale and David McNamee – SELECTED FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
· Mari Rabie – 3rd 70.3 IRONMAN SOUTH AFRICA
· Vicky Graves – WINNER YORKSHIRE WOMEN’S 10M TT CHAMPIONSHIPS
· David McNamee – WINNER SCOTTISH UNIVERISTY CHAMPIONSHIPS
· Rhys Davey – WINNER SKIPTON TRIATHLON
· And many more…
Team members and pre 2011 result highlights are below along with some commentary as to what being a part of the team means to them.
Marc Jenkins (Team leader and mentor) - 2004 Olympian, two-time national champion, 2010; second at Windsor Triathlon 2010, 2 ITU points podiums 2010, Currently ranked 50th in the world. In 2005 nearly died from DVT and only returned to competition in 2010, during this time he became the coach of his wife Helen Jenkins and led her to a 2008 World Championship title, 2008 Beijing Olympics appearance and is on track for a 2012 appearance.
“It's great to be part of a team with a huge amount of potential to succeed and improve. We are supported my some of the best names in sport and have the best access to a number if support services that money can buy.
It has already been a very successful year for the team and I am sure results will continue to come” Marc Jenkins
Lois Rosindale - 2010 Runner Up Windsor Triathlon, Silver , ITU Under-23 World Duathlon Championships, Winner Leeds 10K 2009; Winner British University Triathlon Championships , Bronze British Junior elite Championships, Bronze Leeds 10K, Winner Bala Triathlon
Victoria Graves - 2010; Injured 2009; Winner European Junior Duathlon Championships, Silver World Junior Duathlon Championships , Bronze European Triathlon Championships , Winner Leeds 10K
"Triathlon is slowing growing throughout the country and it is such a privilege to be a part of this amazing team, I'm really looking forward to racing this year after been out with injuries, getting back in the mix and hopefully producing some good results." Vicki Graves
Steve Worthington - 2010; Winner Windsor Triathlon 2009; Winner British University Biathlon Championships, 6th World Aquathlon Championships
Alex Brooks; - 2010 Became father 2009 Ironman World Championships Qualifier, Ironman 70.3 World Championships Qualifier, 3rd For Goodness Shakes Triathlon, 3rd Non-professional Ironman South Africa (17th Overall), 4th Non-professional Ironman UK (18th Overall)
“Being part of the team brings pressure to perform but isn't that why we race? The support allows me concentrate 100% on racing knowing I have the best kit and technology to maximise performance.” Alex Brooks
Tristain Shipsides - 2009 Winner Liverpool Triathlon, Winner Little Beaver Triathlon, Winner South Coast Classic, 2nd Royal Windsor Triathlon
Mari Rabie (South African international studying at Oxford): 2008 Olympian for South Africa, 2010 1st Ironman 70.3 South Africa; 2009 1st Xterra South Africa, 1st ITU Triathlon South African Championship
Jo Carritt - 2010; 3rd Ironman UK – 1st year pro, plus top-10 finishes at Ironman France, Lanzarote and Western Australia – qualified for Kona in first year in pro ranks.
"I'm feel very privileged to be racing for Challenger World UK Tri Team this year. With an awesome portfolio of product sponsors, technical and media support as well as a diverse network of inspiring teammates, involvement with the team is hugely valuable to me as I develop my career. I look forward to rewarding their support this season with my race results!" Jo Carritt
David Mcnamee – 2010; 2nd Strathclyde ITU European Cup, 9th European U-23 Champs and regular racer in the ITU WCS. British Universities Triathlon Champion.
"It’s great to have joined the team for 2011. Having the support of Challenger World UK Triathlon Team behind me will allow me to greater focus on getting the best out of myself this season "
David Mcnamee
Rhys Davey – 2010: 2nd British Junior Duathlon Champs, Upton Tri+ Winner – 4th consecutive year. Skipton Triathlon winner began 2011 training with Alistair Brownlee in Tenerife.
To follow Team Challenger World UK on their journey go;
Website: www.teamCWUK.com Holding site currently live but with full bespoke website to go live soon
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/TeamCWUK/161359923930353 check out the team site, follow and like it for your chance to get exclusive experiences and access to sponsor competitions and more
YouTube: www.youtube.com/teamCWUK where you can find videos from the launch and team interviews, with videos being added after various races
Team Challenger World UK are proudly sponsored by 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, Asics, Evans, Gatorade, Maxifuel, Profeet, Speedo, Timex, and Wings Transport
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