Tom Wooldridge – Junior Club Coordinator and Level 1 Coach

Before my daughter Emily started with CTC in 2017, I hadn’t given triathlon much thought. My sporting interests were primarily running, followed by cycling, with swimming a distant third. However, I rapidly saw how enjoyable and rewarding triathlon can be and started to help out with events and the occasional session. Since the beginning of 2019, I have been helping out on a regular basis with the Saturday coaching sessions, took on the role of marshal coordinator for this year’s aquathlon and managed to complete my first aquathlon. It’s hugely satisfying to see the enthusiasm and effort that the children put into the training and racing, and to be able to help with their progress and improvement. The support from coaches and others involved in the juniors section is fantastic and it’s great to be part of such a positive and friendly club.

Tim Williams – Training Coordinator & Level 3 Coach

I’ve been involved with triathlon since my wife to be, Heather, took it up in the early 1990s. She was a swimmer and I was a cyclist. She went on to become a professional triathlete, National Elite Champion and GB International before she retired, and afterwards was British Triathlon Performance Director through two Olympic Games: Beijing 2008 and London 2012. I stuck to bike racing initially and then, as Heather’s career took off, focused increasingly on coaching – first her and then others. Those others have included children and adults, cyclists and triathletes, novices and World Champions.
I’ve been involved with the Cambridge Triathlon Club for many years. I’m the Training Coordinator and senior coach. I started the Junior Club in 2003 and, though I stepped away from regular Saturday morning sessions in 2008 to set up the (British Triathlon) Regional Academy, I’m still closely involved – particularly with the Dragons. And I still run the Regional Academy.
Away from triathlon…actually I never really get away from it, as I’m a full-time professional coach.

John Juckes – Level 2 Coach

 

Jafar Yousef – Level 2 Coach

I did my first Triathlon in 2008, it was an Olympic distance event as Sprint distances weren’t always an option at most events then. But I did do the Cambridge Duathlon (on a mountain bike setup with beefy wheels as my road bike wasn’t delivered on time) prior to that by a few month just to test the waters without the water (though I was a confident swimmer as I swam at junior/senior level and competed a lot at swim meets and continued on to open water and long distance swims while at University and after). I was pretty much hooked after my first Triathlon and quickly entered a long distance triathlon event that same year (I learnt at the time that I didn’t like sitting on road bike saddles for 4 plus hours that year as well).
Before trying triathlon I raced and trained in athletics focusing on the 4 × 100 metres team relay and the Steeplechase with the occasion 10 km race, cross country or half marathons as a change of pace.
I really enjoy coaching CTC Juniors and we have great team of coaches to help at sessions and be part of what makes it a great environment for juniors starting out as young athletes.

Allister Bell – Level 2 Coach

I did my first triathlon in 2009 and the next year my daughter Kathryn started in an after-school triathlon club, so we both joined Cambridge Triathlon Club. At first I found it a bit of a mystery as to what was going on, but I started helping on a few bike rides and by 2013 I was inspired to complete my coaching courses. I coach at a variety of sessions, and have found that even though I don’t have a sporting background, I am able to put together fun and interesting sessions to help the junior athletes with their technique and development.
In 2014 I took over the running of the club championships, including opening up Waterbeach Barracks as a traffic free cycle venue. I believe it is hugely important for young people to learn to ride their bikes safely and I particularly enjoy planning and coaching these sessions at Waterbeach.
I was the Junior Coordinator from 2016 to 2018. We have an amazing and talented bunch of Coaches and Helpers, so whilst it was hard work at time, it was very rewarding working with such a great bunch of people.
I have seen the fun, friendships and pride in their achievements that my children and many others have benefited from. I enjoy being involved in our community run club to ensure that many others continue to enjoy these opportunities as well.

Tim Sallows – Level 2 Coach

Having dipped in and out of cycling and triathlon in the past, I started to get involved with the training sessions as a parent helper when my eldest son joined the Club in the spring of 2016. Since that time my younger son joined the club, I qualified as a Level 1 Coach and in January 2019 I took on the role of Junior Coordinator. Becoming a Level 1 Coach was a straightforward process and the club has lots of resources to help with the ‘homework’ required to complete the course, which was a great help. I hope to be able to complete my Level 2 Coaching qualification, if time permits.
Taking on the role of Junior Co-ordinator was a little daunting at first, as I’m not always the most organised with my paperwork, but it has proved more rewarding than I thought. I take pride in being able to help develop and support not only the junior athletes, but also the volunteers involved with Club activities. I hope they are enjoying supporting our core coaching team as they are becoming more confident each time they participate. My aim is to build up a great coaching team and volunteer bank to take us forward over the next few years, as we will no doubt lose one or two of our existing coaches as their children grow too old for the Junior Club.
However, my favourite part of being involved in the club is supporting the junior athletes at races, cheering them on alongside their families, and seeing their hard work pay off. It has been very rewarding over the last few years to see the juniors overcome their personal challenges, and sometimes fears, to develop into independent young adults with great sportsmanship.
Aside from coaching, I have volunteered at the many events that the Club hosts including the Rob McLean triathlon, Club Aquathlon and time-trials, as both a parent and a coach, doing roles such as marshal and time-keeper, through coordinating marshals for events, to being a Race Director. I would encourage other parents/carers to get involved with the Club in whatever way they can – it is a rewarding experience.

Finally, my children have taken part in a wide range of local and national triathlons, so I am very happy to pass on my experience of racing in the Regional League, Castle Triathlon series, nation Super-Series and ‘Age Group’ qualifiers.

Pam Missenden – Level 2 Coach

I’ve always taken part in sports – including ski-ing, fencing, windsurfing, tennis, squash – but my all-time favourite is definitely cycling. I like nothing more than me and my bike being in (almost) perfect harmony! I came into triathlon in my late 40’s and subsequently took part in several World & European Championships. This sounds very grand but I need to say that I am very much a ‘middle of the pack’ competitor. I simply love sport and how it makes me feel both physically and mentally.
I have been helping out at the Junior Club for a few months now and thoroughly enjoy being surrounded by such enthusiasm and an abundance of smiley faces (coaches and athletes).
I am delighted to have the opportunity to give something back the sport which has given me so much.

Kjell Van-Paridon – Level 2 Coach

 

Mark Webster – Level 1 Coach
Jo Lockhart – Level 1 Coach
Anne Knights – Level 1 Coach

 

Beth Bowstead – Swim England Level 2 Swim Teacher

After a number of weeks taking my son Eddie to the Monday night swim session I was approached by Don to start helping on poolside with training. Allister encouraged me to complete the level 1 swimming teaching course which I really enjoyed. I then went on to complete my level 2 swimming teacher course allowing me to become part of the Cambridge Junior Triathlon coaching team. I love watching the children progress and develop over time and planning fun activities to do during sessions. I particularly enjoy cheering the children on when they are racing and watching them beam with pride when they cross the finish line. I am hoping my own triathlon career will take off when my youngest son starts school.

Tracey Brown – Membership Secretary

My children joined CTC as Caimans in 2016 and 2017 after getting the Triathlon bug at their primary school outreach session; they are now in the Croc and Dragon squads training and racing at every opportunity.
I recently started out by ‘offering to help’ on poolside at the Friday swim sessions with support from John Juckes, which quickly progressed to helping with the Saturday sessions, again with lots of positive guidance from the coaches my own confidence has grown. It’s great supporting the juniors, seeing them work so hard to achieve personal goals, being part of their journey in sport has inspired me to give something back to the club that my children have gained so much from over the past few years.
I’ve also got involved in marshalling and helping with registration at the club events, plus supporting my husband when he was approached to take on the role of Marshall Coordinator for the Rob McLean Junior Triathlon in the summer. Then I even stepped out of my comfort zone by signing up for the September Club Aquathlon.
I’m not a triathlete myself but am a keen cyclist who enjoys strength and conditioning exercises too. I’ve taken part in various charity run and swim events over the years but have yet to put all three disciplines together to give triathlon a go, however, seeing all the young athletes is definitely a huge inspiration to give it a try.

Tracey McCluskey – Welfare Officer

My daughter Caitlin joined the Club when she was 8 and then our older daughter, Elizabeth, joined about a year later. They have received so much support with triathlon from both the coaches and other parents at the Club, so when the Welfare Officer role became vacant, I decided I should start to help. It did take a couple of emails before I realised that no-one else was volunteering and that I should!
I attended safeguarding training course to gain the knowledge I needed to carry out my duties and I am supported by a full time Welfare Officer at British Triathlon.
Being part of the club is a great experience, all the coaches and volunteers work so hard (juggling work, volunteering and children) to ensure that the training and the running of the Club goes well. I’m very proud to be a part of the Junior Club and hope that others will want to volunteer for roles as well.

Jim Mills – Race Director, Rob McLean Triathlon

My son Oliver got involved in triathlon after the 2012 Olympics through Don running a triathlon breakfast club at his junior school and then joined CTC. In the last year he has been racing at the National Elite level in the Super Series. My daughter Evie is also a member of the club and enjoys racing in the Eastern Region League. Although I enjoy all three triathlon disciplines, I am not a triathlete, but an ex-rugby player, coach and referee. It was somewhat inevitable that I would become more involved with the club and became Race Director for the Rob McLean Cambridge Junior Triathlon 2019. I will also be Race Director for the 2020 race.

Simon Hargaves – Community Activator
Robert Fincham – Community Activator

Helpers
We have a number of helpers who assist our qualified coaches to deliver training sessions. We would be delighted to welcome new faces to the team.