Written by Robin Clough, Wakefield Triathlon Club secretary
Wakefield Tri Club members getting the public started
On a sunny Saturday in July, Wakefield Triathlon Club was invited to exhibit at a 2012 Olympics connected event organised by Wakefield Council. The theme of the day was to encourage shoppers in the busy Wakefield Cathedral precinct to eat healthily and take up exercise as well as picking up life-saving tips from St John's Ambulance. Other exhibitors included the Wakefield Wildcats who occupied the stall next to ours.
The WTC stall was manned by volunteers from the club who mingled with shoppers and handed out leaflets about the club. The centrepiece of the WTC exhibit was two Wattbike exercise bikes. The bikes are high-tech and endorsed by British Cycling (see www.wattbike.com for more details). Passers by were challenged to complete 300 metres on the bike in as quick a time as possible. Best times were displayed on a Top-Gear-like leader board and there were categories for Men, Ladies and Children.
Everyone that had a go got a swim cap, and those that broke a record were awarded a WTC T-shirt. Determined WTC triathletes competed with the public in the quest to get the fastest time of the day. Given the relatively short distance the endurance fitness of the triathletes didn't really come in to play. In the end honours were even with a member of the public getting the men's fastest time but Vic Burrows-Bilton managed to achieve the best ladies time of the day. Vic happened to be looking after a stall for Pugneys further down the precinct. All in all the day was a great success and certainly helped raise the profile of the club.
Many thanks to those that volunteered to help man the stall, mainly: Phil, Alison, Tony, Bill, Robin and Greg. Extra thanks to Greg who spent all day on the stall as well as helping to ferry the bike too and from Nottingham.
Wakefield Tri Club members practise at the start of the day
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