New kids triathlon
Race hopes to emulate Australia success
With one in five children overweight by the time they start school, parents are trying to find fun ways to keep kids fit and healthy. UK Triathlon is encouraging this by staging the first annual Warburtons UK Kids Fun Triathlon.
The event, which takes place on 26 June at Alsager Leisure Centre, is aiming to emulate the success of a similar series that takes place in Australia and New Zealand which drew in 40,000 kids in 2009. The attitude to sport down under is excellent with children being encouraged to participate in fit and healthy activities from an early age. With the population of the UK being more than twice that of Australia and New Zealand combined, UK Triathlon are expecting the race to be as successful in this country by 2012.
Event Director Vic Bickerton thinks the event will be a big hit: “Keeping children healthy is no easy task so we’re hoping that kids will see the event as a fun challenge. We won’t be timing the children as we don’t want it to be seen as a race. We’ve made sure the distances are of a suitable length to make the event fun and achievable by all kids while still providing physical benefit.”
The event will be split between boys and girls, and then into age groups. 7 and 8 year olds will be swimming 25m, cycling 1km and running 500m, 9 to 12 year olds will be swimming 50m, cycling 2km and running 1km, while 13 to 16 year olds will be swimming 100m, cycling 3km and running 1.5km.
For more information, including how to enter or volunteer to help during the event, visit www.kidstriathlon.co.uk.
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
