trigold recruits target London 2012

British Triathlon has announced that Adam Bowden, Katie Ingram and Charlotte Roach are the successful athletes accepted onto the new talent identification programme, trigold. All displayed the drive and determination to make the transition from running to triathlon with the aim of becoming future Olympians.



The three former athletes met stringent performance criteria and are now undertaking an intensive three month training programme at British Triathlon’s National Performance Centre at Loughborough University. The aim is to realise their potential in order that they meet the criteria for selection to Triathlon’s UK Sport Lottery Funded World Class Performance Programme and ultimately the London 2012 Olympic team.



British Triathlon is also delighted to announce that Barrie Wells, a respected entrepreneur passionate about sport and triathlon, is privately funding the programme in its entirety, as well as the three individual athletes, supporting them through to London 2012.



The support that Barrie provides will enable British Triathlon to deliver a unique programme to the athletes so they can progress to the very pinnacle of the sport.



Barrie Wells is delighted to be supporting trigold, commenting: ‘I think trigold is a fantastic initiative, in fact, I only wish I’d thought of it myself! As an ex athlete, I have long held a passion for sport and have recently decided to set up the Wells Sports Foundation to help promote and support sports at grass roots level. As part of this, I am also supporting a number of elite athletes who have the potential to be podium winners at the 2012 Olympics, who will act as mentors and ambassadors for the Foundation. I am delighted that I have been able to support the trigold athletes as part of this. This is such a unique approach to the sport, and will provide the three athletes with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete at the highest level.’



Planet X has supplied all three athletes with top of the range bikes to support the intensive bike training they will receive from British Triathlon. The Doncaster based company will provide Adam, Katie and Charlotte with both training and racing bikes to hone their skills.



Meet the trigold athletes:

Adam Bowden

Born: Watford; Lives: Loughborough

Background: I have represented Great Britain and England on the track, road and cross country. I specialised in the 3k steeplechase and was National Champion and Olympic trials winner in 2008.



Katie Ingram

Born: Chorley; Lives: Loughborough

Background: My main focus was mountain running but also 5k-10mile road races to maintain speed and cross country for endurance over the winter. Ingram has also recently won the Commonwealth Mountain Up-and-down Championships.



Charlotte Roach

Born: Chester; Lives: Loughborough

Background: Prior to trigold, my background was 1,500m and cross-country athletics. One of my career highlights to date was finishing fourth in the European Junior Cross Country Championships held in Spain in 2007.