Facebook Posts
2020 Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club Events Statement
The following statement about our 2020 events has just been e-mailed to everyone who has entered one of our events, we thought it would be helpful to also post it here. Please support us if you can by entering the Half Marathon & 10k in September, or grab one of the remaining places in the Bluestone Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon for 2021 - it is half full already!
Dear Athlete,
Firstly, we hope this e-mail finds you well and you are finding innovative ways to train in the current climate. You clearly have more important things to think about than our events, but we feel it appropriate to update you on our current position.
This email (following the previous one on 22nd March) and is being sent to all entrants of our 2020 events:
• Fishguard Junior Aquathlon (Sunday 14th June)
• Bluestone Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon (Broad Haven – Saturday 11th July)
• Pembrokeshire Half Marathon & 10k (Dale – Sunday 27th September)
We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that all these events are organised by Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club and not a large commercial events company. As a Club we are immensely proud of all our events and the fact that, as triathletes ourselves, we understand what makes a great event and what you want as competitors. Each event raises money for local charities and good causes. Any profits made from the events are invested back into the Club to support the development of our senior triathletes and Tristars.
Our current position regarding the events is as follows:
Fishguard Junior Aquathlon (Sunday 14th June)
This event is CANCELLED, as it falls within the period that British Triathlon are not currently permitting any events (up to 30th June). We will be contacting all entrants separately regarding their entry fees which were made via the British Triathlon entry system.
Bluestone Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon (Broad Haven, Saturday 11th July)
This event is also CANCELLED. This has been a really difficult call for us, after 11 consecutive and successful years since bringing this event back to Broad Haven in 2009 (following the original event from 1994-97). It doesn’t fall within the period that British Triathlon have so far announced for event permit cancellations, but it is only just the other side of it. Coupled with the uncertainty that currently prevails and the fact that we haven’t had any entries for a month (the race is currently 50% full) the decision to cancel has been made.
As a Club we also need to avoid any further unrecoverable expenditure. We have already incurred quite a bit that we cannot get back. Finally, we have looked at alternative dates later in the season, but as these are also uncertain and due to the congested nature of the diary in August/September, it has proved impossible to find a viable alternative date that is not also likely to succumb to COVID-19 or clashes with other events.
Therefore…all of you who have entered will automatically have your entry rolled forward, without any charge, to the 2021 date – SATURDAY 10th JULY. We hope you will agree this a very fair way forward. If you cannot race on that date in 2021, you will be able to transfer your place to someone else in the normal way via your Active account, up until the 30th June 2021.
Welsh Triathlon have confirmed to us that this event will form part of the Welsh Super Series in 2021, as it was meant to this year, which is great news.
Whilst we hope the vast majority of you will be happy that your place is being transferred to 2021, we do understand that some of you may be facing severe financial hardship due to the knock-on effects of COVID-19. The Committee of Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club will consider refunds and will review any request for a refund on its own merits. If you fall into this category and would like to request a refund, please email events@pembrokeshire-tri.org.uk by 30th April explaining your reason for doing so. All requests will be considered by the Committee in the first week of May.
Pembrokeshire Half Marathon & 10k (Dale, Sunday 27th September)
For now, this event remains ON. Because it was fairly far away in terms of date when COVID-19 struck, we haven’t had that many entries (58 out of 300, even though the event has sold out the past 2 years – we are used to seeing most entries come in during June to August!).
So even if the event can go ahead if restrictions are lifted, we would need a pretty significant and rapid surge in entries to make it viable. We anticipate making a decision by the end of June, subject to how the wider situation develops. If the event cannot go ahead, like with the Broad Haven event we will roll forward entries to 2021 without charge. So please encourage your friends to enter if they can (entries remain open here: www.pembstri.org.uk/events/pembrokeshire-half-marathon-10km/), they have nothing to lose, and it may just make the difference between the event happening or not!
Many thanks for your understanding and patience at this time, we understand it is unsettling for us all and has provided many new challenges for the Club to consider.
Stay safe, stay healthy and please follow all the Government advice.
Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club
COVID-19 Statement 22/3/20
The message below has just been e-mailed to everyone who has entered one of our remaining 2020 events. We thought it might be useful for a wider audience. The events concerned are:
Fishguard Junior Aquathlon (Sunday 14th June)
Bluestone Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon (Broad Haven – Saturday 11th July)
Pembrokeshire Half Marathon & 10k (Dale – Sunday 27th September)
Firstly, we hope this e-mail finds you well in these deeply unsettling and anxious times. You clearly have more important things to think about than our events, but we felt now was the right time to update you on the position as it stands.
We were very lucky to be able stage the Pembrokeshire Duathlon in Neyland on Sunday 8th March. Most events due to be held since then have not been so fortunate.
We are paying close attention to and following UK, Welsh and Local Government advice, advice from the NHS and Public Health Wales, and guidance issued by the governing bodies for our events, British Triathlon and Welsh Athletics. As it stands, events permitted by these two governing bodies are cancelled until the end of April.
We all have access to the same general information on websites, social media, and the news channels. It seems to us that it is very unlikely that we will be able to stage the event in Fishguard in June, or Broad Haven in July, and possibly/probably the event in Dale in September.
Current event postponements are already causing a large concentration of events later this year, leading to congestion and clashes. Already a large local Half Marathon (& Marathon), due to take place on 5th April, has postponed to 27th September – the same date as Dale. So we could suffer a large reduction in entries, which in itself could easily make our event(s) unviable. Clearly, as a local triathlon club we cannot risk making a significant loss and we have already incurred some expenditure preparing for the events (no event organiser, it seems, has event cancellation insurance that covers this pandemic).
So to the important message: as things stand we are leaving the events in the diary as they are, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely. As soon as anything changes in terms of postponement or cancellation, we will let you know. These decisions will be based on the latest advice given to us, and the need for us to make decisions from a practical event management perspective.
Should we need to postpone any event to a date later in 2020, or cancel and go again in 2021, your entry will be rolled forward to the new date without any further charge. Should you not be able to make the rearranged date, you will have the option to transfer your place to another person.
Stay safe, stay healthy. Look after yourselves, your loved ones and your community, and we hope we will see you very soon.
Sarah Winter, Chairperson
David Astins, Events Manager
Rhys Thomas, Junior Co-ordinator
An update on Covid 19 and Club fees has just been emailed to all members. You might need to check your junk/spam mailbox.
In light of current circumstances, it has been decided to cancel all Pembs Tri Club sessions with immediate effect (seniors and tristars). I understand this will be disappointing for many of you but obviously the health and safety of our coaches, club members and their families is our first concern.
The committee will be monitoring the situation closely and we will review and update the situation accordingly.
Stay safe everyone.
We have received the following information from Welsh Triathlon and as a Club we will continue to monitor the situation and seek advice from all the necessary bodies and Pembs County Council, as we run most of our sessions at their venues:
COVID-19 Information for triathlon clubs
The health and safety of the Triathlon Family, whether you’re a member, coach, or volunteer is our main priority. We have been researching the latest information as we start the triathlon event season.
As it stands triathlon clubs sessions and events can continue to take place though as things are changing rapidly we need to look to Government Guidance. You should continue to follow advice from Public Health Wales, the World Health Organisation and both local and national government.
With the ever-changing situation, we advise that you liaise with your local authority sport development team, leisure facilities and other providers if you are unsure whether facilities will be open.
As your NGB we are making the following recommendations. We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and provide updates where appropriate.
Please advise club members to make their own judgment as to whether they should be attending sessions. If a member has any symptoms, they need to self-isolate for at least 7 days AFTER the symptoms have started.
All members should follow the widely available guidance from Public Health Wales with regards to people maintaining good hygiene to avoid spreading of the Covid-19 virus.
Any coaches and volunteers who may consider themselves vulnerable to the virus should assess if it is sensible for them to continue to attend sessions
Before and after each session, ask members to wash their hands thoroughly.
If swimming, make sure members shower before entering the pool and after swimming
If members feel slightly unwell (temperature, new persistent cough, shortness of breath), please advise they do not attend any sessions
If using facilities such as local gyms and leisure centres– please make sure equipment is wiped down before and after use – ask the facility provider for more guidance as to the effectiveness of their cleaning products. Take your own wipes if you feel this necessary
Research suggests you are more vulnerable to infection after heavy exercise so be aware of over exertion and then meeting in groups
If using inflammatory drugs consider new evidence that these drugs may increase the effects of COVID-19
If using a mat or towel at an exercise class, consider taking your own and ensure you keep a sensible distance from other people when exercising
When running socially keep your distance and avoid contact
Below are some links that you may find useful and informative to share with your club members;
GOV.UK
Public Health Wales
Mental Health Foundation
As you can all appreciate, this is a rapidly changing situation, and we will update you as we receive new information changes. Remember exercising is a good way to bust the blues away so message your members to keep them active but ensure they are training sensibly and following all the guidelines. There is a great opportunity to train in new ways; virtually, adapting equipment in the home, engaging the children in active games and so on – lets do what the triathlon community is good at innovation and fun.
Thank you for your support, and for the support you are providing your clubs, over the next few months.
Massive congratulations to Catherine Marks and David Cole on their wins at last Sunday's Pembrokeshire Duathlon in Neyland. Both are past winners of this event which started in 2008!
Catherine was also crowned Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club duathlon champion for the 3rd year in a row, along with Jack Rees who collected the award for the 2nd time. Well done to the 3 of you!
The wooden trophies were made by Jason Wilkins of Jason's wood craft from a storm felled beech. We love them ❤
Membership
Upcoming Events
Pembrokeshire Duathlon
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Bluestone Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Pembrokeshire Half Marathon & 10k
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)