A day at the Yorkshire Ability Triathlon: An inclusive tri for children

What do you get when you cross a jaded old triathlete who thinks he’s seen it all, with a group of 50 enthusiastic children with a range of abilities all doing one of their first ever races? The answer is, the most inspiring day I’ve ever spent in more than 25 years in the sport.

Long-suffering readers of my column will know that last year Richard Mostyn-Jones, Chair of the Yorkshire region of Triathlon England, drew the short straw on a bus journey to the start of a swimming race at Ullswater and ended up sitting next to me.

Having fallen into conversation to try and distract ourselves from our impending watery doom, Richard mentioned something he was involved in called the ‘Yorkshire Ability Triathlon’ (YAT), an event for children with physical and neuro-diverse conditions.

Following Ullswater, Richard and I kept in touch, and he very kindly invited me along to the next instalment of the YAT. Now in its third year, the event promised to be the biggest yet with almost 50 participants taking part.

Race day at the Yorkshire Ability Triathlon

The event was held once again at Leeds Beckett University, who gave their facilities completely free, and was organised so that kids could complete each discipline with no time pressure.

The swim distances were up to the individual athlete and parents could join their kids in the water if they wanted, the cycle was on a track with an incredible fleet of adapted bikes provided by Everybody’s Cycling, a charitable community benefit society based in York, and the run began with a mass start on the running track and a finish line right in the centre.

Because of the potential for long gaps between disciplines due to the range of abilities, transitions also comprised a range of optional extra activities such as archery, basketball hoops, smoothie bikes, skittles and music.

Frankly, I wish transitions in races I have done were this much fun and I hope other race organisers take note – it was better than the usual rush!

Unmatched enthusiasm and commitment

I must be honest I have never witnessed athletic commitment like it from the kids taking part, nor enthusiastic support like it from the legions of volunteers from Morley Tri Club and Bramley Baths Tri Club, and there were more highlights than I can possibly list. Here are just a couple:

A young lady called Hope whooping with delight as she zoomed round the track on the front of a specially adapted bike on to which her wheelchair was fixed, pedalled by Morley Tri Club’s Mikey Wallis.

An athlete named Freddie, aka “Fast Freddie” riding a trike and realising that he could make his parents who were running alongside run faster than they would like to if he pedalled away from them.

A young lad called Noah carefully arranging a sprint start on the running track against his Mum, before exploding off the line like Usain Bolt while she was still getting into position.

A lad called Will who told me at the start that he was determined that he would complete the full 750m, 20km, 5km distance – and promptly did.

The sight of children from the ‘Sunshine and Smiles’ club for people with Down’s Syndrome proudly posing for a team photo with their medals.

Rich mentioned that upon seeing some of the athletes taking part I might find that I got a bit emotional, but as triathlon’s most granite-hearted figure of course that didn’t happen to me. No the watery eyes were definitely down to hayfever…

My congratulations to all my fellow triathletes – because triathletes they all are – and a final word of boundless admiration for Rich, Mikey, and all the organisers and volunteers from Morley and BB Tri Clubs, who gave up their Sundays to marshal the event and make it such a success.

I don’t know what makes people give their time, energy, support and almost limitless enthusiasm to create a magically memorable day for a group of young triathletes they’ve never met. It must be love.

Find out more about the Yorkshire Ability Triathlon, including how to get involved, how to volunteer, and how to sponsor.