Different Perspective Sports Magazine Issue 2 - IRONMAN Wales | Page 29

A piece by mark allen
The South Wales Police Triathlon team was founded over 10 years ago and initially
comprised of only 5 athletes. The section has grown considerably since those early
days and the club now boasts 46 members. The club is comprised of police officers and
support staff from the whole of the South Wales region. The club supports local events
and, last year alone, members took part over 50 races throughout the UK.
The club has a special affinity with Ironman Wales.
In 2011, 23 members took part in the inaugural event.
In 2012, 21 took part.
In 2013, 21 are set to step into the breach once more. Of these, 8 are taking part in
Ironman Wales for the third time!
Chief Superintendent, Alun ‘Maxi’ Thomas, one of the ‘Triple Crown’ Ironman Wales
athletes, commented:
‘Ironman Wales is the ultimate event for our club members. The event is local and
is, reputedly, the hardest Ironman in the world. The members who have taken part
previously would all agree that the support of the people of Tenby is second to none.
The feeling going up Saundersfoot (Heartbreak) Hill, being surrounded by crowds of
people, is immense. Last year, you may have seen a mad drummer running alongside
our team members as they went up the hill, this year he had a bugle!! Our legs were
screaming at this point and this really helped to get us to the top!’
‘The club has a motto- ‘helping ordinary people do extraordinary things’. To complete
the event members will have put in months of training. Some will be looking for
personal bests and qualification times whereas others will just be looking to complete
the course in the permitted time. Whatever the goal, we hope that all 21 members will
complete the course safely and enjoy the day’.
This year, the team are supporting one of Ironman’s designated/ partner charitiesScope. The team have raised over £15,000 for different charities over the last 3 years
and the team hope to raise in excess of £5000 with this year’s efforts.