Keeping Our Young Athletes Engaged All Year Round

This year, we’re making a small but exciting change to how we run our racing seasons. From now on, our Summer Series will run from January to July, in line with the school year, while our Winter Series will take place from September to December, during term time.

We’ll continue to pause all training during school holidays, but — unlike many junior triathlon clubs that only operate during the spring and summer — we’re proud to say that we run all year round. This structure allows our young athletes to stay active, engaged, and connected to the sport through every season.

Why We’ve Made the Change

We know how busy family life can get, and how hard it can be to keep children motivated through the darker, colder months. That’s exactly why we’ve restructured our series timings — to make triathlon fit better around the school calendar while giving our athletes a consistent rhythm of training, racing, and recovery.

By aligning the Summer Series with the academic year and starting the Winter Series in September, we create natural breaks that fit neatly around term times. It means athletes get time to rest during the holidays, without losing momentum or enthusiasm once school restarts.

Why Keep Racing Through Winter?

For us, triathlon isn’t just a summer sport. We see huge value in keeping young athletes engaged across the full year — not only for their physical progress but for their confidence and sense of belonging.

Here’s why our Winter Series is such an important part of what we do:

1. It keeps the routine going

After a long summer break, it can be tough for children to get back into regular training. The Winter Series provides that steady structure, something familiar and motivating to look forward to each term.

2. It builds resilience and skill

Racing in cooler conditions helps develop mental toughness, adaptability, and technical awareness. Learning to handle a bike in damp weather or pacing a run in the cold teaches valuable lessons that make stronger athletes in the long run.

3. It keeps the community together

Our club thrives on energy, teamwork, and friendship. Running sessions and events year-round helps our athletes stay connected, with each other, with their coaches, and with the sport they love.

4. It encourages steady, safe progression

Having two distinct series each year gives us the chance to assess progress regularly. Coaches can give targeted feedback after each series, helping athletes set new goals for the next phase of the year.

What to Expect from the Winter Series

Our Winter Series will continue to feature the mix of swim, bike, and run challenges that our members know and love – just with a slightly different feel.

Expect:

• Fun, varied sessions designed to suit the season — including indoor swim time trials, duathlons, and running challenges.
• Friendly competition where every athlete can take part and earn points toward the overall standings.
• A focus on skill and consistency rather than long distances, helping everyone maintain form through winter without overtraining.
• A community atmosphere — cheering each other on, sharing achievements, and keeping spirits high until the next summer season begins.

Each event will count toward the Winter Series leaderboard, with recognition for effort, improvement, and team spirit as much as results.

What We Ask of Our Families

Your support makes all the difference. Here’s how you can help your child get the most from our year-round format:

• Encourage them to take part, even when it’s cold or grey — showing up really matters!
• Keep things fun — focus on enjoyment, not just performance.
• Check kit and clothing so they’re comfortable and prepared for cooler weather.
• Volunteer if you can — our events rely on a brilliant community of parents and helpers.

A Word from the Coaches

We’ve introduced this structure because we believe in keeping our athletes active, motivated, and part of something special throughout the year. Triathlon is about so much more than just race results — it’s about commitment, teamwork, and learning to love challenge.

By running both Summer and Winter Series, we’re giving every young athlete the chance to develop steadily and confidently, while staying part of a supportive community all year round.

So, whether it’s a crisp morning in November or a sunny day in June, we’ll be there — swimming, biking, running, and cheering each other on.

Let’s make this season our best yet!