Crystal Palace Triathletes: COVID - Keep Tri-ing

Keeping Kids Fit
Help us save the phenomenal JUNIOR division of the much-loved Crystal Palace Triathlon club so we can engage more children and teens from diverse and lower socio-economic groups and keep this dynamic and friendly sporting club alive during COVID. See the REWARDS we’re offering and what we’re up to this half term with our Land’s End to John O’Groat (LEJOG) challenge and one of our members is taking on the Channel (in a pool)!

Hannah Ewens takes on the Channel!

Hannah joined Crystal Palace Triathletes in 2014, keen to try a new sport out and meet people. What she didn’t realise, was where it would actually take her. Coaches and members consistently go above and beyond in this triathlon club. It was because of this, that Hannah went from riding around the Herne Hill Velodrome in a baggy t-shirt and trainers, to competing at much bigger events just a couple of years later. 

In support of CPT’s fundraising, Hannah is going to attempt to swim the channel (in a pool) in 72 hours! Another fantastic challenge in support of our crowdfunding campaign, Go Hannah!

More info link:

https://www.crystalpalacetriathletes.com/2021/03/25/hannah-ewens-takes-on-the-channel/

Crystal Palace Juniors take on the LEJOG challenge 

VIRTUAL SPORTIVE
On the 20th of March Crystal Palace Triathletes will proudly be holding our first sportive. The 'Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stick Together: Virtual Sportive' is taking place via Zwift and will see members of numerous triathlon clubs across London and the South East regions coming together to raise funds for our junior club! Anybody can get involved as long as you have Zwift and all details can be found through this link:

Virtual Sportive

We would love it if you could join us for a nice morning spin in Watopia!

A Long and Proud History

Since 1993 Crystal Palace Triathletes has grown to become one of the most successful and reputable Triathlon clubs in London, and since 2005 has hosted the annual Crystal Palace Triathlon each May. We are an AWESOME club!

Our juniors have achieved:

• 66 podium positions 

• 27 have been invited to train with the London Region Training Squad.

• 14 qualified for the London team at the Inter-Regional Championships.

• Have been selected 3 times for the London Academy and twice into the England Talent Squad. 

• 1 was part of the London Team at the 2018 School Games.

• 4 became level 1 assistant coaches and 

• 1 qualified as a level 2 coach 

• And we have U17 5000m British record holder.

The Programme for Juniors

In April 2008 the club launched their Junior division and we currently have 54 children aged 8 to 16 years competing in triathlons and training regularly in swimming, cycling and running with the club’s team of professional coaches. 

CPT is proud that an increasing number of their junior members are regularly placed in the top ten at Local, Regional and National events and the club and its members are proud to support the annual Trinity Triathlon each year which offers a closed-road event for juniors. 

Our Plans for the Future

Chairperson and coach, Audrey Livingston, who was voted this year’s BBC London's Unsung Heroand who also volunteers as a member of the London Regional Committee and the British Triathlon Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, is dedicated to making this sport accessible and affordable for all members of the community. Audrey hopes that funds raised will support new events this year to introduce the multi-discipline training that triathlon provides to more young people. Audrey says, “We’d love to put on “Try-A-Tri” or “Go-Tri” events so more people can get active!”. 

The club also plans to support outreach programs encouraging children and their families to have fun, get fit, develop new sporting skills, boost mental wellbeing and be part of a growing and supportive community. The club would like to run more regular social and fundraising events and activities and encourages local families from all backgrounds to be part of the club.

Why We Need You to Help Us

The annual Crystal Palace Triathlon makes a vital contribution to CPT’s finances and supports many of the current training activities. A special event with a very special place in London's Triathlon calendar, its postponement in 2020 was a great loss. This has created unprecedented pressure on funds and challenges the club’s ability to continue to operate as it has done. CPT desperately wants to continue to offer affordable weekly training sessions using local swimming / athletics / velodrome facilities — but needs YOUR HELP. Check out some of the brilliant rewards CPT and its members are offering! 

Providing appropriately supervised coaching and training for the juniors costs the club considerably more than for adult members. These vital new funds will help the club not only continue to support juniors but expand their numbers. This inevitably leads to more adult members joining as children often encourage and inspire their parents and family members to “get running, cycling and swimming” too. 

A Community Club - Rich in History With Strong Foundations

CPT has a dedicated committee with a proven fundraising track record and a team of volunteers planning a range of exciting fundraising activities. 

The club has won a number of awards including London Regional Event of the Year, Performance-Development Coach of the year, Junior Club of the year, Children’s Coach of the year, Young volunteer of the year and Volunteer of the year. Triathlon England Event of the Year, British Triathlon Federation Young Volunteer of the year,British Triathlon Federation Volunteer of the year award.  

Please support this campaign to allow them to not only continue running this amazing, friendly club but to keep fees low and expand their programmes to offer world class training activities and coaching to the whole community.

If you’d like further information about our club, please visit www.crystalpalacetriathletes.com or email [email protected] - everybody is welcome!