I’ve always been a very active person, childhood holidays often  consisted of long walks and lots of bike rides. I also swam from a young  age and competed at club level as a junior. I always enjoyed sport at  school, especially the cross country running, but I was one of the  smallest kids and didn't got picked to represent the school! I never  stopped being active (I even did kick boxing for a couple of years) but I  didn’t start running properly until I was in my late 20s when I did the  5k race for life and the Cardiff half marathon. I started taking part  in triathlons around 6 years ago with a group of friends. I started  swimming again and bought my first road bike from a friend for £150. We  spent a summer taking part in local novice pool based sprint triathlons  and were hooked! The next year I upgraded my road bike, got clip in  shoes and joined Cardiff Triathletes. Since then I’ve taken part in  several triathlon events of various didtances, outdoor swimming events,  cycling and running events including three half iron distance triathlons  and Ironman Wales! I have also trained to become a Technical Official  so that I can give something back and support others. My moto is to  always finish an event with a smile on my face, keep perspective and  race for your own personal achievement, not for times or PBs.

I joined Cardiff Triathletes in August 2016, after setting myself a goal of completing a Half Ironman triathlon and entered myself into Cholmondely Castle, The Gauntlet, (one of the Castle Triathlon series events) for the following season.  I chose this event because it had a 10 hour cut off.   I knew I couldn't complete an Ironman 70.3 given their strict cut off times.  I was an average swimmer, not the strongest person on a bike and a very slow runner!  I completed the Gauntlet in a time of 9 hours and 20 minutes.

Having found myself a new hobby that I loved, I continued to train hard through the winter and In 2018, I completed  Cotswolds 113 in 7 hours and Weymouth 70.3 in 7.5 hours, in conditions that were far from perfect on a very wet and windy day!

In April 2019 I ran Paris marathon in just over 5.5 hours, (a PB  of nearly an hour on my previous marathon time) and a month later, completed IM Mallorca 70.3 in just under 8 hours.   My ultimate goal, which I am currently training for, is a full distance Iroman.

I’m a Level 1 Coach at Cardiff Tri and well as Membership Secretary. I have been competing in triathlons for over the last 10 years along with SwimRun events and numerous running races. I swam from a young age however, I learnt how to cycle and run a little later in life! I’ve been lucky enough to represent GB in my age Group at the Europeans and the Worlds – an incredible experience. I have completed in (nearly) all distances of Triathlon (just got a full IRONMAN left to tick off!) .

I guess that means that I get to make sure everyone in the Club is happy, and that we are being as inclusive as possible while also helping everyone reach their individual goals.

Day job: Lecturer and Researcher in the field of Education at the University of South Wales; and I’m also being seconded to the Welsh Government to join the Attainment Team who are trying to deal with the impacts of poverty on educational attainment.

Best Triathlon/Event: really like smaller events. I enjoyed the Brecon Beacons Trail Marathon in 2022 – lots of peace and quiet out on the hills. I haven’t ever done a triathlon but have 2 planned for this year – eeeek!

Most embarrassing/funniest moment of a Triathlon/Event: Forgetting to put on my timing chip while swimming an open-water event for Oxford Uni… I realised halfway through the race and got pretty bummed with myself… Luckily they were able to guestimate my time and it still contributed to an Oxford win (shoe the tabs!!).

Bucket-list Triathlon/Event: Probably a hundred miler trail run… Preferably in the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa.

Favourite post-event snack: Home-made chocolate chip cookies, made with extra peanut butter J

I have completed in (nearly) all distances of Triathlon (just got a full IRONMAN left to tick off!) .

Level 1 Coach, I mainly help and deliver the Thursday and Sunday swim sets with other Coaches, helping people achieve swimming success. I have helped with some run sets and look to do so going forward.

Day job: Lead Quality Assurance Automation Engineer for Loqbox

Best Triathlon/Event: Ironman Wales 2022. The culmination of 3 years of long course training with all the highs and lows that go with it. Ultimately a cathartic release across the board and getting to share the event with all the wonderful CT support and family plus growing up in South Wales made it ultra special.

Most embarrassing/funniest moment of a Triathlon/Event: Mumbles Triathlon 2021. Apparently I didn’t tighten the bolts of my TT bars as well as I should have, I lost the first one about 5km into the bike ride and the other one about 30ish-km into it. I got the first one back (flattened) after the race, but the second I recovered by (calmly) throwing my bike in a bush and retrieving it from the road. I then cycled the last 10km with a TT bar in my back pocket and sat forward on the saddle. Then commenced the run in the most stinking mood I’ve ever run in.

Time in club – 29 years  Background to Triathlon. Apparently I am the longest continuous club member! It all started for me back in 1994. As an expectant father I rocked up to ante natal classes and got friendly with a chap who had an ‘ironman’ sweatshirt on. Transpires my new best friend used to be Wales Ironman record holder.  My ‘career’ has seen me race in America, most of Western Europe and I have been privileged to race for team GB 3 times – twice in European Long Course and as recently as 2023 in the Sprint World’s in Hamburg. I love cycling and I am lucky enough to have climbed just about every Tour de France hors category mountain, along with a few Italian versions too. I’ve done Flanders and Paris Roubaix  cobble sportives, raced cyclo-cross in the winter and swam the Caldey to Tenby race 3 times so far. Only ever done 1 marathon – because I had to for Ironman! Born in Tenby, it seems strange I have never ‘thrown my hat into the ring’ at Ironman Wales.  Maybe for my 60th year?? Top achievements over the years have included: Ironman Switzerland 2004 – 11 hrs 40  Welsh aquathon  champs– age bronze medal Welsh Sprint Champs – over 40’s bronze medal Welsh Olympic Champs – over 50’s silver medal  Blaenavon – over 40’s champ. GB age group long distance European Champs – 2010 Spain and 2014 Mallorca GB age group sprint distance World Champs – 2023 Hamburg PB’s swim 400m – 5.31, bike 10 mile TT 24.01, run- not telling. All some time ago!! I think now as edge into journeyman mode I train because I want to, not because I have to. I will always be surprised by my swimming, disappointed by my cycling and avoid running wherever possible – but will keep having fun!  I enjoy swim coaching on a Tuesday and in terms of advice, for swimming – stretch & roll/catch up are the ultimate stroke improvers (along with spearing of course), cycling – never let your cadence drop below 75 rpm, running- ask someone else!  Most importantly – do it all with a smile!

Club member since 2010 Club coach since 2011. Currently hold the BTF level 2 certificate for club coaches and also the level 2 diploma allowing me to coach on a 1 to 1 basis. I have coached all three disciplines but have mainly focused on swimming in the past. I’m currently working on developing my strength and conditioning knowledge so I can add this to the repertoire. My competitive sporting life started by dropping the handlebars on my BMX and riding around pretending to be Laurent Fignon, Bernard Hinault, and Greg Lemond my greatest childhood heroes (apart from Luke Skywalker). I then moved on to Rugby and later athletics before spending 8 years at University being a total slob and doing no sport at all. I started triathlon following the death of my wife as it provided the essential therapeutic outlet I needed at the time. Since then I’ve completed triathlons of all distances from sprints to full Ironman and even managed a few top 10 finishes when I was a bit younger. In real life I’m a molecular immunologist working as a principal scientist for a biotech company that specialises in developing medical diagnostics. 1st tri: Gower sprint, Port Eynon Toughest tri: Blaenavon tri (original course, no longer running). This was a legendary beast that threw everything at you. Fav tri: Alpe d’Huez (short course), super iconic location.

I am a Level 1 Coach, coaching swimming but hoping to add on the running soon.

Day job: Dental Technician

Best Triathlon/Event: The 70.3 in Portugal in 2019, where I had the chance to race in my hometown of Cascais and have my closest family there to cheer me on.

Most embarrassing moment of a Triathlon/Event: I am yet to have an embarrassing moment.............2023 might be the year!

Bucket-list Triathlon/Event: I don’t have a bucket-list event, but hopefully I’ll add more 70.3’s to the list.

Favourite post-event snack: Burger and chips.

Level 2 Triathlon Coach, mainly Coaching the Sunday Swim Session.

Day job: Local Authority Transport.

Best Triathlon/Event: Ironman Wales.

Most embarrassing/funniest moment of a Triathlon/Event: I drove to Windsor Triathlon and forgot to take my bike!

Bucket-list Triathlon/Event: Escape to Alcatraz.

Favourite post-event snack: Coffee & cake if it’s a morning finish, pizza and beer if it’s in the evening.