The shortlist for this year’s members’ awards at NTC’s annual awards ceremony has been announced.
Thank you to everyone who submitted their suggestions for nominees.
NTC’s committee considered all the suggestions and have agreed the shortlist below. Only club members are allowed to vote. To make your choices please follow the link that has been sent in the club newsletter.
Best performance – male
This person produced an amazing performance this year, in one race or several. Their performance embodies the values of NTC and makes the club proud. This award is for triathlon, duathlon or aquathlon.
James Adamson
James took two first age group places this season – one at Cholmondley Castle, where he was also second overall, and the other at Leeds, where he was 9th overall. James also took 5th age group in the age group qualifying Eton Sprints events in May.
Lloyd Bebbington
Lloyd qualified for a place at the European Triathlon championships 2022 with his performance at the Box End standard triathlon in Bedfordshire where he was 5th overall and 3rd in age group. Lloyd has also had several other outstanding races, including 4:38 for his first “half” distance at Thoresby Park, 6th overall place and 4th age group place at the Woodhorn Triathlon standard distance qualifying event, 6th overall at the Cholmondley Castle Olympic distance tri, 23rd overall at the Leeds Triathlon standard distance and second overall at the Oulton Park spring sprint duathlon.
Sean Lindsay
Sean Lindsay kept to his plan to do the Bolton Ironman during 2021, after the event he entered in 2020 was cancelled. He stepped up his distances, stayed committed to the training and achieved his goals of completing the event, finishing in 15 hours. Afterwards Sean was hit by covid but was able to recover and finally to use his club place for the London marathon in October, finishing in 3:49.
Ian Smith
Ian has achieved multiple 1st in age group wins in sprint distances races at Boundary Breeze, at the Woodhorn Triathlon and East Leake. He can also race long distance – taking first age group at the half ironman distance at Vitruvian in Rutland, with a time of 5:00.
Mark Hatton
Mark has continued to improve this year. He took first in age group and 17th overall at the Shropshire duathlon, 42nd overall and 4th age group at the World and European age group qualifier Woodhorn triathlon and 73rd overall in the Southport triathlon age group qualifier race. For anyone who wonders whether hard work pays off – Mark shows that it does!
Matt Harper
Matt Harper chose one of the hottest days of the year to do his first “half” distance triathlon, but paced himself to manage the heat and finish the Staffordshire Ironman 70.3 in 5:22.
Best performance – female
This person produced an amazing performance this year, in one race or several. Their performance embodies the values of NTC and makes the club proud. This award is for triathlon, duathlon or aquathlon.
Michelle Marshall
Michelle has won her age group several times through 2021 and completed a memorable season recently with a 4th age group place in the European aquathlon championships in Spain.
She took first age group places at Leeds at the Shropshire duathlon and third age group at Boundary Breeze.
She has battled injury most of the season, but she still gives 100 per cent.
Lucy Spencer
Lucy raced in NTC colours for the first time this year and took 4th woman overall and 1st in age group at Darley Moor duathlon at her first event for the club.
She also placed second overall and first age group at the Cheshire Triathlon in May, posting a 6:54 500m swim and an 18:19 5k run.
Angela Hogg
Angela is new to triathlon and set herself a goal of completing a sprint distance event, which she achieved at the Blenheim Palace triathlon in September. She had worked up to this by doing the super sprint event at Leeds. She shows tremendous attitude and determination.
Most improved athlete of the year
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.
Luke Maxwell
Luke has gone from strength to strength on the track and at swimming and he has had some good race results, including 3rd age group at Alderford sprint triathlon, 5th age group at Castle Howard sprint triathlon, and 2nd age group at the Shropshire standard distance duathlon.
Luke is really committed to all sessions, he tries really hard and his effort has paid off.
Angela Hogg
Angela joined the club early this year, having lost lots and lots of weight over the previous year or so. She was petrified to step foot in Astbury in early May, but by the end of the month she had gained the confidence to swim a lap with her tow-float. By June she was racing in the Leeds triathlon and she went on to achieve her goal of completing a sprint distance event at Blenheim.
She has attended just about every run session at Northwood, and this determination has started to rub off on her young daughter Ruby who is now becoming a much more confident runner than she was back in late spring.
Lucy Spencer
Lucy is new to the club and to multisport racing too but during her short time with the club she has shown that she has the potential to be an accomplished athlete.
She has done the club proud in the events she has taken part in, taking 4th woman overall at Darley Moor 2nd overall at the Cheshire triathlon. She has also posted consistent top 10 positions for the club in this year’s cross country races.
Lucy’s running has improved hugely and, with her swimming background, she has made a promising start to multisport racing. If she keeps up the hard work that she is putting in, the 2022 will be a very exciting year for her.
Sean Lindsay
Sean Joined the club two years ago never stopped training ready for his Ironman because it was cancelled in 2020 to covid! He kept to his plan and was determined to do his Ironman. He went from doing barely 40km rides to knocking out the full 180km in the Ironman. He had his ups and downs but finally did it the Bolton Ironman, finishing in 15 hours. Then got covid for three weeks but bounced back and managed still to do the London marathon. Sean really deserves credit for his commitment to what he wanted to achieve.
Volunteer of the year
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.
Lisa Adamson
Lisa has become an indispensable volunteer and the club relies on her for so many functions – much of it unnoticed behind the scenes. Her dedication to serving the club is admirable and the work she does is critical to the club’s operation. What would we do without her?
She shows that nothing is too much trouble and offers help on any administration element to help and encourage both new members and existing members to attend club training sessions.
Lisa put a lot of time into the club making sure we were covid safe, when we returned to training. She and Paul have made sure all procedures were in place so we could continue to train. Thank you.
Mike Hearson
Mike and Nicola Hearson are our very own NTC cheer leaders! They are always there supporting the juniors and seniors, making sure all juniors and parents (and seniors) have what they need for race day and always backing it up with some fab race day photos.
Mike this year became a BTF “activator”, which involves supporting the coaches and encouraging the athletes.
He forms a partnership with junior coaches Matt Jackson and Paul Adamson to encourage and support our thriving junior section.
Nicola Hearson
Nicola and Mike Hearson are our very own NTC cheer leaders! They are always there supporting the juniors and seniors, making sure all juniors and parents (and seniors) have what they need for race day and always backing it up with some fab race day photos.
Nicola is always hands on to help the club out and she does a lot behind the scenes.
Mike Howard
Pulling that newsletter together each week is a b**** of a job, but Mike does it professionally and without fuss.
Mike also became bike lead this year, conducted a comprehensive survey of the ’requirements’ of the club cyclists and breathed a new lease of life into club rides (real ones and virtual ones).
Most dedicated member of the year
Based on being at all training sessions, irrespective of the weather.
Richard Hall
Whatever the session Richard is there no matter what and always gives 100%. In fact he doesn’t do anything in life less than 100%!
Richard has spent the last year so dedicated to his training when undertaking his first Ironman distance triathlon. He has been almost ever present at swim, bike and run sessions, both on the track and the Sunday morning steady runs. He juggles the training with work and combines it his family commitments.
His results from this dedication prove that consistency with training pays dividend.
Luke Maxwell
Has he had a weekend without racing this year? He even planned to walk up Snowdon on the same day as he competed in the Leeds triathlon in the morning. He’s a regular at track and Trentham sessions.
Luke is a thoroughly nice bloke too, and soaks up the help and advice offered by NTC coaches and other, more experienced triathletes.
Marie Bebbington
Marie lives and breathes the club, attending swim, bike and run sessions consistently. She also organises a weekly 5k run and leads bike rides on both summer Tuesdays and on Saturdays.
Jason Riley
Jason is a regular at most of the training sessions, but he also finds time to be super supportive of everyone else. He provides lots of encouragement to other members, contributes lots of his own ideas and is always grateful for the opportunity to take part.
John Braithwaite
John is a relatively new member of the club but has thrown himself in, attending most training sessions. He takes part enthusiastically and has used the training to undertake very big races this year, including a “half” distance in the mountains of Snowdonia.