16 / /June 2019
A recentflare-upoverpriceyGBkithighlightshowthesystemdemands
reform in order to reward, not cash in on, high-achieving amateursAGE- GROUP NEEDS A SHAKE-UP
Representativeage-groupracing
shouldbecelebratedasa great
triathlonsuccessstory– atitsbest
whenthosenewtothesportrealise
theyhavea talentforswim,bikeand
runandfinda routetosporting
achievement.Withthe
categoriestoppingout
withthe85-89-year-old
age-groupinlastyear’sITU
worldchampsonGoldCoast,
it clearlyprovidesinvigorating
competition,irrespectiveofage.
It shouldthereforeretainathletes
intriathlonforlonger,andcreate
camaraderieanda senseofpride
inflyingthenation’sflag.
Yetitsgovernanceis oneofthe
sport’smostthornyissues,andwhile
occasionalgripesareunavoidable,
sometimesdecisionsreallyraise
hackles.Suchwasthecasewhen
BritishTriathlondecreedthat
age-groupcompetitorswantingto
represent in 2019 must buy the latestkit,goingagainsta rulingfromthe
ITUthatpreviousyears’race
uniformswouldsuffice.
It effectivelystrong-armsqualifiers
intoforkingoutupwardsof£120fora
newtri-suit,ontopofupto£
fora standard-distanceentry,
plusa £20internationalrace
feeandminimum£
BritishTriathlon
membership.That’sbefore
travelandaccommodation.
It’snotsimplytheextracost,
buttheimpressionthata loyaland
captivatedaudienceis being
exploited.Theflamesarefurther
fannedbecause,unlikewhentaking
partinIronman,a privatecompany
knownforitsaggressivefor-profit
stance,athletesfeelthey’rebeing
screwedoverbytheirnational
governingbody– theorganisation
thatshouldhavetheirbacks.
Discussingage-groupracingis
divisive.Pastcolumnsonthissubject
havebeenmetwitha backlashfor
decryingtheachievementsof
triathleteswhoworkhardtoqualify.
Onthecontrary,I saluteanyathlete
whomakesthestartline,beit
aquathlon,duathlonortriathlon.The
supporting personnel for the GBage-groupteamalsoregularlyreceive
glowingreviews.
Buttowhitewashthecurrent
structureasfitforpurposebeliesthe
feelingofmanywhoenteringood
faithbutbecomedisillusionedwith
thesystem.It doesn’thelpthatfew
nationsputasmuchstockin
age-groupracingasBritain,which
meanseventslooklopsidedlystuffed
withcompetitorswearingtheUnion
Jack.Lookuppastworldand
Europeanracesandtheindividual
achievementofsecuringa qualifying
berthis underminedbyanexcessof
Britishathletesonthestartlist.
Despitethehighfees,British
Triathlonsaysit makeslittleprofit
fromthisventureandadmitsit’sa
problemthatneedsaddressing.
Perhapsthefinancessimplydon’t
addupandage-groupracingrelieson
heavyBritishinvolvementto
function,butit’stimetotakestock.
A representativeteamshould
rewardhigh-achievingamateursand
makewearingtheGBcolours
somethingtoaspireto.Thereneeds
tobefewerracingandmorefinancial
supportgiven.Orthatmandatory
tri-suityou’vebeenforcedtobuywill
be all sheen without substance.state
of
play“It’s not simply the cost, but
the impression that a loyal
audience is being exploited”
DANIEL SEEXTIM
HEMING
Cuttingthrough
thespinoftrito
addresstheissues
thatmatter,Timis
a sportsjournalist
whohaswritten
extensivelyon
triathlonforthe
national press.