Meet The Committee

Kurt Clarence

Chair

As long as I can remember I have been into sports, I played football and county level tennis in my youth and have graduated with a sports degree from the university of Lincoln.

An avid cyclist for the past 7 years, I got into cycling on the promise of coffee and cake and never looked back.

Since then I have completed numerous sportif’s and enjoy cycling round the south of France.

Completing an Ironman has always been a goal of mine, so when the first lock down hit and I could no longer go to the gym, I decided it was time to train for it, I started running that January and never looked back, joining the club in the April.

Joining the club was the best decision, it has improved my performance whilst making great friends along the way.

Having previously served as club secretary and now as the newly appointed Club Chair I hope to help anyone looking to start or improve performance find their way, as I know you’ll love it as much as we in the club do.

Vince Knight

Treasurer

I have always been reasonably fit but at the grand age of 39 was asked to compete in a sprint triathlon.
At first, I was not interested because I had not been running for approximately 20 years and could only swim breaststroke. But nevertheless, I took up the challenge.

I started running 3K twice a week and at first went to the local pool to improve my swimming. I then decided to join the Swindon triathlon club.

The swimming coaching is outstanding, and I enjoy the Thursday night swims even though I am still one of the slowest swimmers.

The coaches have improved my stroke and fitness over the years and members have encouraged me to push myself each year.

In 2019 I completed my first Ironman in Wales in a very respectable 12hour 14mins.

Andy Jarvis

Membership Secretary

After being a keen runner and gym goer for many years, I wanted to try cycling and triathlon after watching the London 2012 Olympics. I finally took the plunge in 2014 when my friend suggested that I sign up for Challenge Weymouth (half iron distance). I didn’t need much encouragement.
One bike later and several hundred pounds spent, I had myself a bike, some strange skin tight lycra mankini and lots of swimming toys. I learnt how to use cleats and cycle, had swimming lessons and found myself completing my first half iron distance event within a year.

I realised I was a sucker for punishment and was hooked.

This year you will find me training for my first iron distance race in Copenhagen, the half outlaw event and the white horse challenge to name a few. But it is my love for training and helping others that got me into get involved with the Swindon Tri club 2 years ago. I love training, meeting new people and encouraging others to take the plunge. If I can do it, anyone can.

Dan Morley

Club Secretary

After being dragged to triathlons in the mid 90’s to watch my Dad race in Buddy Smugglers and a vest, I was certain I would never move away from my love of playing hockey in the winter, cricket in the summer and mountain biking for fun. After graduating from University in 2012 I made the move from mediocre runner to mediocre triathlete, working my way through super sprints and sprint distance races to build up some experience before I ventured longer.

Tempted by the longer distance races, I completed a few 70.3 (half distance) Ironman events in Wimbleball and Cotswold 113, before finally building up the courage to enter Ironman Lanzarote in 2019. After committing to my training through the harsh British winter, I completed my first (and only, so far) Ironman with a huge smile on my face after a brutal hot and windy day on the island. The sense of achievement was nothing I have felt before. This year I am aiming to go long again, with Long Course Weekend and Ironman Wales on the cards.

I joined Swindon Triathlon Club after moving to the area in 2022 as my wife was already a member. I have been hugely impressed not just with the coaching but the way the club was run by volunteers. Hopefully my skills at taking meeting minutes as the club secretary do the committee and members justice.

Stuart Foster

Head Coach

My first experience of an endurance sport was as a teenager, with the sport of rowing. I continued rowing through my university years, racing the annual cycle of local regattas, Henley Royal Regatta and the National Champs. Towards the end of university, I began to help out with the coaching team, and experienced the great feeling that comes from helping others achieve their sporting goals.

For several years I largely dropped out of competitive sport, instead enjoying running and mountain biking just for the fun of it. Then, after moving to Swindon, I heard about the sport of triathlon through some friends. At that time I couldn't run or cycle due to injury, so I thought I'd learn to swim. And what better motivation than a race... so my first triathlon was entered.

After that first race I was hooked. I've now raced at Sprint, Middle and Long distance (never, though, Olympic distance... I must tick that box one day!), and have won my age group at Sprint and Middle distance races, as well as a sprint Duathlon race.

Triathlon coaching is becoming a big passion of mine. I believe the key to success in triathlon is consistency, and it follows that sessions must therefore be fun to keep athletes coming back for more.

In addition to coaching with Swindon Tri club, I also help out coaching my daughter at BAD Tri in Bristol, and coach swim sessions for Swindon Dolphins and South West Swim. I am a BTF Level 2 Triathlon Coach and a Swim England Level 2 Swim Coach.

Holly Willis

Welfare

I jumped straight into the Triathlon deep end and entered Ironman Wales in 2014. I thought I would do triathlon for a year, tick off an Ironman and move on – how wrong I was! I have since completed 5 Ironman races and countless 70.3’s, qualified for Kona and become hooked on the sport.

When I first moved to Swindon in 2013 I didn’t know anyone, but through joining the club I quickly gained a huge group of new friends and training partners. The group sessions are great motivators, and the coaches provide such a great level of support, knowledge and encouragement – inspiring me to complete my Level 1 coaching qualification in 2021!

You can contact Holly for any welfare issues at mailto:hg240@hotmail.co.uk

Ellie Hains

Social

I completed my first triathlon in 2016, a local sprint distance, and won the Vet category - I was addicted!! Since then I have competed as a GB Age Grouper racing at Middle Distance (half iron).

I joined the Swindon Triathlon Cub in 2017 and have loved being a part of the club and recently became the social secretary - I haven't had a great deal to do as shortly after taking on the role COVID hit! But now restrictions are lifting I guess I will start having to do something!!!

Graham Smedley

Website

I did my first triathlon in 2005 in London. An Olympic Distance race that was, at the time, the longest I had ever exercised in one go in my life. Although slow I found I enjoyed finishing. After a few half iron distance races, one of which I finished dead last (and by a long way), I fell into ultra triathlon. My first race was a Double iron, then a Triple and I followed that with Quin. I then got quite good for a couple of years and won a Triple and a 1 a day Double before being able to finish a 1 a day Deca (10 irons in 10 days). My last races have been failed attempts at the Continuous Deca finishing short on the run both times, shorter races for me in the future!