Youngsters giving the sport a Tri
THE West Lancashire Sport Partnership Try Tri event was held at Park Pool, Ormskirk.
The event is for primary pupils from across all schools in West Lancashire to experience taking part in a triathlon and in total, a remarkable 841 primary pupils crossed the finishing line at the close of play.
The girls and boys taking part all completed a 40 metre swim, 800 metre bike ride and 400 metre run during the event.
Triathlon is a sport with growing popularity among men and women, and the youngsters at Park Pool seemed to love the mix of activities.
With the Brownlee brothers’ successes and sportsmanship proving an inspiration to children and adults throughout the UK, triathlon’s popularity looks certain to continue growing.
Working in partnership with West Lancashire Community Leisure Trust and Active West Lancs, the event provides an opportunity to promote the importance of an active lifestyle for young people across the borough.
Partnership director Mark Forster said: “Our annual Try Tri event is one we look forward to throughout the year.
“It is fantastic to see so many young people participating and experiencing this increasingly popular sport.”
West Lancashire Sport Partnership would like to thank West Lancashire Community Leisure Trust for sponsoring this annual flagship event, which provides so many young people from across the borough to experience a multidisciplined sport.
A further thank you goes out to British Cycling and Sefton Cycle Hire for providing the bikes for the racing.
THE Skem Men-aces faced their toughest challenge to date last weekend. They hit the road at 4am for a round trip of 460 miles to West Ham United, where they were invited to play in their tournament. But was it worth the journey? Well, a spokesperson for the team said: “Hand on heart this tournament was without a doubt the greatest achievement in the history of the Men-aces.”
That would be a resounding ‘yes’ then.
After heading down to West Ham, the game plan was to try and win one game but these stars had other ideas and were desperate to get a result for team-mate Ken Chadwick, who is battling cancer.
After a succession of tough qualifying games, the Aces found themselves in the semifinals.
Firstly they had to get past West Ham and after producing the most awesome display and winning 4-2, they reached the final and were up against the mighty Charlton Deaf Team.
Coach Mim said: “I think it would be fair to say that this was one of the most physical games that I have ever witnessed and many times our lads were flattened to the ground.
“I honestly do not know where the Men-aces’ guts, resilience and sheer determination to win come from but win they did with two truly stunning goals and a team performance that will live with me forever.
“Tears flowed, hearts were thumping, butterflies were dancing, it was so emotional.”
The Men-aces were crowned West Ham United Inclusive Tournament winners.
Mim added: “This now very famous club just keeps growing to heights that we could have never imagined. Long may our success continue.
“For me, man of the tournament would go to Josh Scott Winstanley who, when you take into account that he is only 18 and has never played at this level before, was fearless and so brave. Take a bow, Josh.
“On the journey home – after an explosive re-enactment of every crunch, goal and showing of bumps and bruises – the bus fell silent as one by one the lads lay down their weary heads.”