Air Ambulance to benefit from Tonbridge Triathlon

Tonbridge Lions Club has, once again, invited the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance charity to find sponsored competitors for the Tonbridge Triathlon to be held on Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May 2014. 

Lions Clubs across the south-east have pledged to donate £250,000 over 10 years to help KSS Air Ambulance achieve its aim of night flying.

The triathlon event, swimming, cycling and running was started by Tonbridge Lions over 26 years ago, and is recognised by the British Triathlon Federation who referee and sanction all triathlons. Competitors have a choice of completing the Sprint, a 400m swim, then a 25km cycle ride, ending with a 5km run or the Standard event that is double the distance for all three disciplines. Start and finish are at Tonbridge School Sport Centre.

Chairman of the organising committee, Lion Tom Simmons said, “Our aim is, as always, to provide an event that is enjoyed by the competitors and spectators alike whilst raising money for local charities. As well as assisting KSS Air Ambulance we are also supporting Headway, a charity that helps those suffering from brain damage caused by accidents.  All the proceeds from our Triathlon handbook will be donated to these two worthy local charities.”

Since its inception, the Tonbridge Triathlon has raised over £125,000 that Tonbridge Lions have used to support to various local charitable causes.

To book a place visit www.tonbridgelions.co.uk and follow the link to Triathlon 2014. 

The KSS Air Ambulance sponsor form can also be downloaded here. 

There is also a dedicated e-mail for event enquiries, tonbridgetriathlon@gmail.com and a dedicated phone number, 07549 949615.

Tonbridge Triathlon

The finishing line at Tonbridge School Track

Tonbridge Triathlon was held on Bank Holiday Monday May 6 at Tonbridge School Sports Centre. A superb day was had by all, even the athletes with their aching muscles and tired limbs. The weather was dry, sunny and hot, so unusual for a Bank Holiday! The supporters made the most of the day basking in the sunshine, watching the competitors and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere created by the keen entrants and the friendly marshals.

386 competitors, of which about 120 were novices, tackled two distances: Standard Distance, 800 metre swim, 50 km cycle followed by a 10 km run and Sprint Distance, 400 metre swim, 25 km cycle and a 5 km run.

Malcolm Davies from London completed fastest Standard Distance in a time of 2 hrs 17 mins 24 secs, and the fastest female completing the challenging course in a very creditable 2 hrs 26 mins 40 secs.  Rob Barnes of Sevenoaks completed the fastest Sprint Distance in 1 hr 12 mins 56 secs. The fastest female was Susan Fairfax from London in a time of 1hr 21 mins.

For the first time this year there were 10 local teams taking part, including two teams from The Duke of York Military School at Dover. The fastest team time was by the Peppa Dog team with a time of 1 hour 29 mins 54 secs.  Jayne Nutley, from Tonbridge, was taking part in her first Standard Distance event and posted the second fastest time for a female with 2 hours 54 mins. Jane is the niece of a Tonbridge Lions Club member.

The organisers, Tonbridge Lions Club, have raised approximately £13,000 that will be split between the Kent Sussex Surrey Air Ambulance, Headway and other local charities. In addition some competitors also raised funds for other charities.