Bermuda youngsters to face Caribbean's best

Lawrence Trott

Published May 12, 2018 at 8:00 am (Updated May 12, 2018 at 2:18 am)

The Bermuda Triathlon Association plans to send a team of about 20 junior athletes to compete at the second Carifta Triathlon and Aquathon Festival in Tobago in September.

The team is expected to be finalised in August for the competition, which will be held on September 29 and 30.

“We can enter five girls and five boys per age group in each event up to a maximum of 30 athletes in aggregate,” Ian Pilgrim, the BTA vice-president, said.

“We will most likely fill that in the 11-12 and 13-15 age groups, but we don’t have many in the 16-19 age group — maybe three or four. We’re probably looking at a team of about 20.

“There will also be a mixed relay event. Relay teams will be selected by the race organisers at random so we will not be able to enter just Bermuda teams. All athletes from all participating countries will be mixed up into teams.”

The 11-12 age group will compete in a 200 metres swim, a five kilometres bike and 1.25km run, with legal draft, while the 13-15 age category will swim 375 metres, bike 10km and run 2.5km. The 16-19 division will have a 750 metres swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

For the aquathon, there is a 250 metres swim and 1.25km run for the 11-12 age group; a 500 metres swim and 2.5km run for the 13 to 15-year-olds and a 1,000 metres swim and 5km run for the 16-19 age group.

Preliminary entries have to be submitted by June 30 with the final selections made by August 30.

Bermuda’s team will be determined on strict qualification and selection criteria, which includes participation in the XL Catlin National Championships at Clearwater next month, the National Heroes Day Home Event in Harrington Sound and the Clarien Iron Kids at Clearwater (for athletes up to 15 years). Youngsters must also compete in no fewer than four of the Thursday night super-sprint triathlons and participate in three competitive Bermuda Bicycle Association scheduled races. They must also take part in at least three hours of swimming training each week with a club or swim instructor and three run sessions per week.

“Once the team has been selected, there will be mandatory training sessions for all team members during the month of September,” said Pilgrim, who added that Neil De Ste Croix will likely travel as the team coach.

“We’re very grateful that Tokio Re have provisionally agreed to sponsor a Bermuda team attending this event, which should help in reducing the cost of participation of each athlete. We will also be looking to organise some fundraising events.

“There will also be a team manager and a number of chaperones depending on the size of the team. Parents will be welcome to attend, but we would like all the athletes to stay in the same hotel.

“In addition, there is an opportunity for an ITU technical official to accompany the team and officiate at the event.” Parents wishing for their child to be considered for selection contact Pilgrim at ipilgrim@mayflower.bm and confirm the athlete’s age as at December 31, 2018.

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