Hello Oxford Tri Family,
I hope that that this finds you well and that you have managed to keep wrapped up on what has been a chilly week. Firstly, thanks for bearing with us on the website we are almost back up and running at full capacity but recognise that it would have been a frustrating time for those trying to get booked into sessions whilst we were trying to restore the website. Fingers crossed that we have seen the back of the website gremlins. There are still a few things that we are trying to add to the website to enhance your experience (adding the wating lists was what crashed the whole thing) so please don’t hesitate to let us know if there are any issues. If the website is ever down it’s worth being part of our Facebook group where we regularly post updates with regards to what is happening within the club. Here is the link to that group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/oxfordtri
There’s a lot in this newsletter so grab a cuppa sit back and relax and enjoy!
God Bless
Craig
Member of the Month
We are delighted to share that our Member of the Month for December is Zara Hannoun! Zara was nominated earlier on this year for member of the year as a result of her behind the scenes efforts as club secretary which had and continue to have an incredible impact on our ability to do the things that we do as a club. Sadly, Zara is going to be leaving Oxford in the next couple of weeks to start an amazing adventure in Norway. Although we are going to miss her we are wishing her the best in this new opportunity and look forward to getting the race reports about her competing in winter triathlons (Run, Mountain Bike, Cross Country Skiing). We simply just couldn’t let her leave without acknowledging the impact that she has had over the past couple of years. Thank you Zara!
Oxford Aquathlon
We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with British Triathlon and their “Swim Bike Run” program to run an Aquathlon here in Oxford at the Leys Pool and Park where we host our Monday night coached swim sessions. The Aquathlon will take place on the 28th of April with racing starting at 9am. The format is a 200m Pool Swim and 3km Run. The entry will cost £20 making it an incredibly accessible event to our local community of Oxford and beyond.
More information can be found on the poster below but please do be saving this date we will be needing approximately 20 volunteers to help us run the event, plus we’d love to see as many members taking part as possible. Do also be thinking about friends and family to invite the event will be open to anyone over the age of 15 on the day. Finally please do share via social media and even highlight that your interested in the event on Facebook. All of these things help more people see it and in turn hopefully more people the opportunity to take part in this amazing event!
Event Link – https://www.britishtriathlon.org/events/swim-bike-run-mini-oxford_15357
Facebook Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/
Cross Country Race Report – Round 3 Shotover Oxford
The third round of the Oxfordshire Cross Country League took place at Horspath on 7th January. It attracted a record number of 822 competitors including 309 juniors and 24 of Oxford Tri’s finest.
Anticipated weather and course conditions caused the organisers to issue a warning that this would be a ‘full on’ cross country. As it turned out, there was a cold breeze but it wasn’t that bad. Of the 7 Oxford Tri athletes who also ran the course in 2023, the average time was just 1 minute 3 seconds slower, with only Katie McDonald appreciatively faster.
Two thirds of the 8km course ran surprisingly well – up the hill to Shotover Plain, across the plain and back down to Brasenose Woods. The bits of the course across the lower fields were sometimes saturated; sometimes comprised of mud, sticky enough to double the size of your feet; and sometimes boggy enough to pull the boots off a hippopotamus. Neither Leonie nor Heine would recommend falling 🙂
After two laps, the course took the runners along the edge of Brasenose Woods where a feast of ankle deep liquidised-mud was interspersed with pools of cooling, shin deep watery-mud.
A little stream then provided an opportunity to clean up before crossing the last two fields. Despite the end being in sight, it was impossible to sprint to the finish because of – you’ve guessed it – too much grass covered (deceitful) mud.
The Oxford Tri honours boards for the race and season to date are as follows:-
| Horspath Race 3 | ||
| Ladies | Gentlemen | |
| 1st | Leonie BOTTOMLEY | Francisco GOMEZ |
| 2nd | Catherine DAW | Adrien FAUVARQUE |
| 3rd | Sarah SPRUYTENBURG | James BRADLEY |
| Season to Date (of 12 who have already completed 3 Races) | ||||
| Ladies | Gentlemen | Club Championship | Age-Group Championship | |
| 1st | Sarah SPRUYTENBURG | Adrien FAUVARQUE | Adrien FAUVARQUE | HeineVAN ZYL |
| 2nd | FionaABLESON BRADSHAW | Stuart FAULKNER | Stuart FAULKNER | StuartFAULKNER |
| 3rd | KatieMCDONALD | Francisco GOMEZ | Francisco GOMEZ | Adrien FAUVARQUE |
Team results were:
Ladies A 21st : Ladies B 37th : Ladies C 49th : from 58 teams of 3.
Gentlemen’s A 18th : Gentlemen’s B 42nd : from 45 teams of 7.
Interesting Note : The Race doubled up with the Oxfordshire Cross Country Championship and the winner, Oliver Conway an Under 20 from Radley AC, finished in 27 minutes 38 seconds. He is the same chap who holds the University Parks, Parkrun record of 15 minutes 4 seconds ……. something for us all to aim for!!
The Oxford Tri Series 2024
We are delighted to share our finalised list of races for The Oxford Tri Series 2024 (Previously Club Champs). We have copied below the information from the website which outlines the races. Where possible we have highlighted the races that we are in conversation around potential partnerships which will hopefully mean a discount for Oxford Tri members. I have been advised to share that communications around the Windsor Triathlon on the 9th of June suggest that entries are going to close soon, so please do sign up asap if you are interested.
Our Oxford Tri Series is an amazing way to participate in a number local events throughout the year as part of the Oxford Tri Community. These races have been hand-picked to give members the opportunity to participate or race in a number different distances and local (as best as possible) events. Although we have recently changed the branding the series remains ever popular with our members with upward of 30 members participating at some events.
Whether you are looking to participate in your first multisport event or planning to qualify for the GB Age Group team our series has something for everyone. Although primarily about getting the Oxford Tri community together at events, our series wouldn’t be complete without some internal club-based competition with a winner being announced at our annual dinner for both our men and women.
If you have any questions about the series don’t hesitate to speak to a coach at one of your sessions or email info@oxfordtri.co.uk
How does it work?
When you take part in one of the series races you receive points based on your finishing time. This will be calculated using a system similar to Parkrun where your score will take into consideration your age and gender.
There is no minimum number of races required so you can do 1 race or all of them! Only your 3 best results will be counted toward the overall series with a winner crowned for both the men and the women at our Annual Awards Night.
We are just finalising how the scoring system is calculated however hope to share this in the coming weeks.
Oxford Tri Series 2024:
Discount codes can be found in your members discounts and offers page (We are currently working with event organisers with the aim of getting discounted entries)
1. Chilly Sprint Duathlon (ETU Sprint Qualifier) (Potential Discount)
10th March 24 – Sunday – entries open
Castle Combe ‘Chilly’ Sprint Duathlon – DB Max Sports Timing & Events
2. Radley Sprint Triathlon (Potential Discount)
29th March 24 – Sunday – entries open
Radley Triathlon | 29th March 2024 (trytri.co.uk)
3. Mallory Park Sprint Duathlon (WC Sprint Duathlon Qualifier)
21st April 24
ATW Mallory Park Duathlon (Including World Champs Sprint Qualifier) 2024 – Eventrac
4. Winchester Sprint Triathlon (Potential Discount)
6th May 24
Winchester Triathlon 6th May 2024 (trytri.co.uk)
5. 51 Fiver Cotswold Standard Triathlon (Potential Discount)
19th May 24
51fiver Cotswold Standard Triathlon – DB Max Sports Timing & Events
6. Windsor Triathlon (Sprint + Standard) (WC Sprint Tri Qualifier and Standard National Champs)
9th June 24
Home – Royal Windsor Triathlon
7. The Oxfordshire Triathlon Series – Sprint Distance (Potential Discount)
23rd June 24
8. Dorney Sprints (Sprint +Aquabike)
13th July 24
Tri and Para Tri Festival | The Arctic One Foundation (arctic1.co.uk)
9. The Oxfordshire Triathlon Series – Standard Distance (Potential Discount)
18th August 24
10. Reading Triathlon (Sprint + Standard)
TBC September 24
Reading Triathlon – Tri2O Triathlon Club
The Dunmore Fund
Some of you may have already noticed on our website and if you’ve already renewed your membership that there is now a section on our website entitled ‘The Dunmore Fund’. As a committee we have been working on this for a number of weeks are delighted to share it publicly now.
Named in recognition of the late Mike Dunmore, founder of Oxford Tri. The Dunmore Fund will provide funds to support Oxford Tri and/or its individual members with the aim reduce barriers for participation in the sport of triathlon, any of its disciplines (Swim, Bike, Run) or other multi-sport events.
The fund seeks to support applications which align with one or multiple OxfordTri club values. These are to INCLUDE, EMPOWER, TOGETHER.
We are particularly interested in supporting members or initiatives which relate to the following themes as outlined in our 2025 Strategy:
- Opportunity
- Coaching
- Community
- Sustainability
Applications with themes outside of this will still be considered but may have a reduced chance of being successful.
The fund will be open for individuals to apply for club-based initiatives or personal support throughout the year. We do have a limited amount of funds and if these are used up the Fund will close until a time where more funding has become available. Applications will be reviewed on a bi-monthly basis by a selection of individuals as appointed by the OxfordTri committee.
The money which makes up this fund has been donated specifically to this fund or attained by the club through fundraising events or applications for funding through external organisations and funds. This fund is ring fenced separately from the wider operational running’s costs of Oxford Tri.
*We are currently finalising the application process*
Training Calendar
See the official calendar for full info and sign up links.
Monday 15th January: Coached Swim – Leys Pool @ 20:00
Tuesday 16th January: Member Lead Social Run – Headington Hill @ 19:00
Tuesday 16th January: Coached Spin – Oxsrad @ 19:00
Tuesday 16th January: Coached Swim – Thame Pool @ 20:00
Wednesday 17th January: Coached Swim – Radley Pool @ 19:30
Thursday 18th January: Coached Run – Horspath Track @ 19:00
Friday 19th January: Strength and Conditioning Online @ 07:15
Friday 19th January: Coached Swim – Kidlington Pool @ 19:00
Friday 19th January: Coached Spin – Iffley Sports Centre @ 19:00