We have two versions of how the club was formed. In Guernsey (it sometimes takes us a while to catch on) a similar group of athletes had heard about the new sport of Triathlon which was now spreading around the globe. A few local individuals had travelled to events in the U.K. and taken part in 'challenge' events between themselves.

 

The official version is this …… In 1987 a group of 12 local Police Officers decided to put on a Triathlon event to raise money for charity. In October of that year the first organised event was held at Beau Sejour Leisure center, with the local Officers swimming 1000 metres in the pool, Cycling around the island coast road (about 24 miles) and running 6 miles, in the process raising several thousand pounds and the profile of the sport in Guernsey. On the back of this successful event a meeting was held at Beau Sejour a couple of months later, attended by about 40 people, the decision was made from there to form the Guernsey Triathlon Club.

 

The second version was sent by Tony Veilliard who had a slightly different memory of how the club was formed.

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"My memory of the forming of the Guernsey Triathlon club is different from that on your website. There were 6 of us from Guernsey who went over to Jersey to compete in the Jersey triathlon in1987: The late Patrick Read, Martyn Baudins (who was a policeman), Bob Duquemin, Steve Taylor, Tony Veillard (me) and another whose name I cannot remember but he was from Scandanavia. (Bob and I had competed in the 1986 Jersey Triathlon. On the boat on the way back we discussed forming a Guernsey Triathlon club and on the back of that we organised a meeting with that intention which was held in the upstairs bar at Beau Sejour. The first committee was appointed of which Pat was president, Martyn was Secretary and I was Treasurer and Bob was a committee member.”

 

We like both versions! What we do know for a fact is that we are grateful to the original gang as since 1988 the Guernsey Triathlon Club the club has grown and thrived. We now have a full calendar of events, currently running a Winter Duathlon Series, a pool based 'Novice' Triathlon and a Summer Triathlon Series as well as the popular biannual Guernsey Granite Man 1/2 Iron distance event.

 

Triathletes from Guernsey have raced in countries all around the world, at all levels, from complete beginer, to World Championships, from the smallest events, right up to ironman. Like most sports clubs the number of members fluctuates, but at present there is a strong pool of interest. Long may it continue...