Best performance: male

Who has produced an amazing performance this year, in one race or several? Maybe they stood on the podium, but maybe there was another reason their performance was extraordinary? Their performance embodies the values of NTC and makes the club proud. This award is for triathlon, duathlon or aquathlon. Please note it is not for single sport events, eg for running races.

Stuart Fisher

Stuart has had some great results representing Great Britain in his age group. He took the bronze medal at the European Sprint Duathlon Championship in Rumia-Pomorskie, Poland, and 4th at the World Sprint Duathlon Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, proving once again his calibre among the best age groupers. 

Luke Maxwell

Luke has worked hard qualifying and competing in four age group events this year, both the cross duathlons and cross triathlons at the European and World Championships and came away with a 4th in the European Cross Duathlon and a 9th in the European cross triathlon 2 days later on testing X-TERRA courses in Prachatice, Czech Republic.

Will Slater

Will has stepped up his performances once again over the past year, winning smaller events outright and placing high in the larger events. Will is consistent and trains really hard. He represented GBR in his age group for the first time at the European Sprint Triathlon Championship in Istanbul and came had a good race coming 9th in the 25-29 age group. Among his other top overall placings were: Stockport sprint triathlon – 1st, Alderford sprint triathlon– 2nd, Blithfield sprint triathlon – 5th & Nantwich sprint triathlon – 5th. The Alderford and Nantwich events also earned Will UK Triathlon’s age group first place in the league of its events.

Jason Riley

Jason finally completed the full Ironman distance at Tenby this year, achieving a goal he had set himself back in 2021. He was robbed of the chance to finish Ironman Bolton in 2022 due to a serious accident. After a long recovery, he remained determined to achieve the distance and attempted Ironman Tenby in 2024. But on a day of brutal weather, he missed the bike cut-off time and looked broken. This year, he made his comeback, overcame his demons and finished the Ironman distance at last.

Mark Espley

Mark’s Ironman Italy performance showed what a class athlete he is. Mark puts himself through a brutal training regime of sea swims in north Wales, long rides on his collection of vintage “fixed” bikes and run track training at Northwood, which includes a long run there and back from home. On his final taper track session, he took it easy by turning up on a gleaming 1970s “Chopper”. At Ironman Italy, he swam the 3.8km in 1:17, cycled 180km in 5:19 and ran the marathon in 3:35, finishing in 10:46.

Best performance: female

Who has produced an amazing performance this year, in one race or several? Maybe they stood on the podium, but maybe there was another reason their performance was extraordinary? Their performance embodies the values of NTC and makes the club proud. This award is for triathlon, duathlon or aquathlon. Please note it is not for single sport events, eg for running races.

Patience has had another great season on the British Triathlon junior training programme. She won the British Triathlon junior super series with a memorable performance where she ran a 17:01 5k to move from 10th place at T2 to second at the finish line. Her position qualified her to race at the World Junior Championship in Wollongong, Australia. Patience has also competed in European junior races in Melilla, Spain and Izvorani, Romania, with an 8th in Izvorani and a spot on the podium with a 3rd place as part of a relay team in Melilla.

Emma Broadhurst

Emma has had some great results in her first year representing Great Britain in her age group. It was her first year of competing at international level and she took 6th place in Istanbul in the European Sprint Triathlon Championships and 7th place in the World Sprint Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, Australia.  Emma is grounded when at training events and is supportive of new members while also performing at a high level. 

Anna Hollingworth

Anna took part in her first age group aquathlon this year at the European Championships in Pamplona, Spain and came away with the gold and the title of European Aquathlon Champion in the 40-44 age group. 

Jo Donnelly

Jo has developed a taste for long distance races and took part in the Outlaw Half in Nottingham this year and took the age group win in a time of 5:31. She also took 1st age group at the British aquathlon championships.

Most improved

This member is voted for on the basis of the improvement in their fitness, results and ability over the year. This award is for triathlon, duathlon or aquathlon.

Diane Slack

Diane is a very regular attendee at the club swim, track run and Tuesday daytime cycle rides. As a result, she has made huge progress, knocking nearly 10 minutes off her time in the Nantwich triathlon in September, compared to the May event. She managed to run the whole run section (having previously had to take a 'walk break' earlier in the year). This is something she was determined to do and worked hard all year to achieve it. Diane is also brilliant at making new members feel welcome to the club. 

Beth Lloyd

Beth works hard at her training and has made great progress throughout the year. She completed the Outlaw half triathlon in May in 7:46. This was after falling outside the cut-off times in her previous attempt at the distance in 2024 at Challenge Wales. 

Zoe Heath

Zoe is new to the club but has trained hard and been among those who have enjoyed the “intermediate” chain gang in the summer. She has taken part at Oulton Park duathlon, Burntwood aquathlon, Shropshire triathlon and Nantwich triathlon.

Jude Taylor

Jude enjoys challenging herself and taking part in both races and training. Among the races she’s competed in are the Burntwood aquathlon; Wilmslow triathlon, Shropshire Olympic triathlon and Nantwich triathlon.

Most dedicated

Based on being at all training sessions, irrespective of the weather.

Harry Hughes

Harry is new to the club this year and he supplements development training camps hosted by the British Triathlon Federation with the local regular weekly programme offered by the club. Despite his visual impairment, he runs with the seniors at Northwood track, swims at Astbury Mere and in the pool at Kidsgrove. He joins the club turbo sessions and has managed to get out on the club social cycle rides on the back of a tandem. His commitment has paid off and he has this year achieved second national place in the super series in his PTVI category. 

Hayley Green

Hayley is a regular face at most of the club training sessions, taking part in the pool swims, at open water swimming, at Northwood track, on the Sunday runs, on chain gang and on the Saturday social rides. Her dedication has meant she has progressed again this year, riding with the fast chain gang and running in the front group at track. Hayley completed her year’s goal of Ironman 70.3 in Swansea and she has achieved great placings at Chester Deva Olympic triathlon and Nantwich sprint triathlon.

Phil Collins

Phil is relatively new to the club but shows great dedication in coming along to running at Northwood, to the pool swim at Kidsgrove and to the turbo cycle sessions. He has thrown himself into racing too, taking part at Burntwood, Nantwich, Boundary Breeze, Blithfield and even doing a triathlon in Cornwall while on holiday.

Phil Dawid

Phil has long been a fixture of most of the club’s training sessions and this year he used the training base he’s developed to take on Ironman Wales. Phil is a regular at Northwood track, on the Sunday runs, on the Saturday bike rides, on chain gang and at open water swimming. Phil also adds on extra training riding to Astbury Mere and joining in the long cycle rides as part of our camping trips.

Club volunteer

This is the member in the background, making the club what it is. Based on always being there to help out and support other members during training or racing.

Charl Clayton

Charl does a fantastic job behind the scenes as membership secretary. She looks after new members and organises the systems in the background that keep the club running smoothly, we would be lost without her. Charl contributes positively to the running of the club with practical ideas and is able to find solutions and make changes happen. She’s also put lots of effort and time into organising the annual club awards night, last year and this year. It wouldn’t happen without her.

Mark Hatton

Mark has done a sterling job as club captain throughout the year. He organised the teams for the Cholmondeley relays, and the club’s cross-country teams, cajoling and encouraging everyone to come along and join the fun. Mark has also been working towards gaining BTF coaching qualifications and has been helping out with both juniors and seniors at the track training sessions. He has also organised additional training sessions for transition practice and led the club’s memorial tribute ride to former member Helen Mason this year. Mark's approach is very encouraging for new members while also supportive of those more experienced athletes.

Mike Howard

Mike creates the newsletter every week, making sure everyone’s race results are included and sharing people’s news and achievements. As cycle lead Mike encourages cycling in the club and organises the weekly bike rides, which this year have included a new intermediate chain gang. Mike organises the summer camping trip to Wales and supports the club in a number of other ways.

Didier Nuttall

Didier kayaked at most of the open water swim sessions during 2025 despite never swimming himself. The only sessions he missed were when he had to work late. As part of his kayaking Didier guided visually impaired athlete Harry Hughes around the swim loop most weeks, allowing Harry to swim without being tethered to another swimmer.