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17
Dec 2023
Harrogate triathlon chairman making strides with club
Some may find the word “triathlon” daunting and exhausting, but Jon Chamberlain disagrees.
The Harrogate Triathlon Club chairman has been in post two years, but has ambitions to broaden the club’s appeal.
The organisation boasts 160 members and an eclectic membership base, ranging from 70 year old athletes to those taking their first steps into the sport.
For Jon, the club is a family - but it could be more than that.
Moving to Harrogate
Jon moved to Harrogate from Leicester nine years ago.
He had first got a flavour of the town while based at the Army Foundation College during his time in the British Army as a physical training instructor.
After upping sticks and moving his life to North Yorkshire, he joined the Harrogate Triathlon Club.
He had initially started the sport in 2011, when he took on an event with his brother.
Jon, who is 51, has gone onto the race the world and European triathlons in Venice and Ibiza in his age group.
The sport has fostered a community for Jon, which he enjoys on a weekly basis in Harrogate.
The club was founded in 2012 as a legacy of the London Olympics and is made up of 130 adults and 30 juniors.
It hosts fundraising events, training sessions and an annual triathlon at Ashville College - the next of which will be held in April 2024.
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Jon took up the chairmanship in 2021 and oversees the running of the club.
For him, much of the enjoyment comes from facilitating the club for its members - some of whom have never run a triathlon before.
Inspirational members
Some members of the club are athletic and compete at a high level - but not all of them.
Jon points to Dave Newby as an example of one of those people.
Dave came to club in late 2022 with an aim of losing weight and making new friends - both of which he achieved within 12 months.
Jane Holmes and Dave Newby.
Last year, Dave completed four triathlons and various 5k,10k and 21k races. Now, he’s training to compete an ironman contest in Nottingham in May 2024.
On the other end of the scale, Jane Holmes is competing in world championships in her 70s.
Jane is described as an “inspiration” to members of the club, Jon says, and helps to coach youngsters starting out in triathlon.
She currently world champion after finishing first in the World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships in Hamburg this year.
She also finished first place in the World Duathlon in Ibiza and European Duathlon in Venice this year.
Growing the club
Jon has ambitions for the club in his time as chairman.
While there is no time limit on how long he can hold the post for, there are areas which he feels the club can improve.
Jon says part of the club’s strategy is to bring in younger athletes within the 20 to 45 age bracket, as well as female and disabled athletes.
But, perhaps the biggest challenge is to tackle the stigma of triathlon.
Another element is tackling the expense that comes with participating in triathlon.
So, what does Jon want to achieve before he relinquishes his position as chairman?
Attracting a younger demographic is among the top priorities.
For Jon, the key will be maintaining the culture of the club and keeping it as the big family that attracted people to it in the first place.
While there is an ambition to attract more people to take up triathlon, he does not want to grow it “too big”.
If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured in Sporting Spotlight, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.
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