Poly’s award honour is a major Tri-umph
NORTH Shields Polytechnic Athletic Club have been voted club of the year for 2019 by Triathlon England’s North East Region for their superb contribution to the sport as well as being recognised with two further awards.
The North Tyneside club have had athletes representing various Great Britain age groups at numerous championships.
This season has already brought success, athletes gaining regional award recognition in grand prix multisport and triathlon competitions.
During August the club hosted their first event to be included in the North East Senior Grand Prix.
The Mouth of the Tyne Aquathlon took place at the iconic setting of Tynemouth Haven Bay, just below Tynemouth Priory.
It consisted of a 750-metre swim and a five-kilometre run, taking competitors along the north pier to conclude the race.
The event won the North East Region Event of the Year for 2019.
NSP’s multi-sport representative Neil Dick said: “This has been an outstanding year for the multisports section of NSP.
“To win three regional awards is reward enough but to also have them short-listed into the final three in each of their categories for the national awards is amazing.
“Hopefully, on November 9 in Birmingham, we can win at least one of them and bring back a national title for the more than 100 adults and juniors who have competed this season.” North Shields Poly also has a thriving junior section.
Now in its third year, NSP Junior
Triathlon continues to grow both in terms of participation and performance, with juniors on the podium in every age category in male and female competitions. The club also has significant representation in the North East Development Squad which is part of the British Triathlon pathway for creating stars of the future.
Junior lead coach Steve Turner, who was named 2019 North East Children’s Coach of the Year, said: “We are proud to support juniors of all abilities in achieving their goals and all of our juniors are members of British Triathlon.
“They enjoy coming to training and taking part in events.
“NSP encourages this and the juniors inspire and support each other as they develop and improve the skills they have learnt through taking part.”
North Shields Polytechnic AC was founded in 1903 and was originally a cycling and walking club.
During the summer of 2013 NSP’s adult triathlon section was born, founded by 10 of the club’s athletes.
Prior to this NSP was primarily seen as a running club but also had a number of athletes who competed in track and field events.