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12,000 children take part in Tata Kids of Steel triathlons
– Number of UK events to increase by a third next year –
The Tata Kids of Steel children’s triathlon series has enabled almost 12,000 children to experience triathlon in the UK this year.
The series, organised by British Triathlon in partnership with Tata Steel, visited 18 locations across the UK between May and July.
Since the series launched in 2007, more than 35,000 children from almost 400 schools have had the opportunity to experience triathlon. Next year, there will be 24 events across the UK and Tata Steel has committed to giving at least 50,000 youngsters the chance to experience triathlon by the end of 2012.
Sarah Jolley, Tata Steel Communications Manager, said: “As the Corporate Partner of British Triathlon, Tata Steel has been instrumental in the growth and development of triathlon in the UK for the past five years.
“Tata Steel is proud to be enabling the sport of triathlon, helping British Triathlon to achieve its mission of promoting excellence in the sport and helping everyone to achieve their own personal triathlon challenge.”
The Tata Kids of Steel events aim to give every child a positive and fun experience of triathlon, regardless of ability. Every child receives a t-shirt, swim cap, gym sack and medal for participating. Bikes and helmets are provided, and children only need to provide swimming and running kit.
Mark Barfield, Director for Development at British Triathlon added: “This year’s Tata Kids of Steel events have once again ensured thousands of budding triathletes have had the opportunity to learn about our fast growing, modern and dynamic sport of triathlon.
“The support of Tata Steel our Corporate Partner has ensured every participant completed their personal triathlon challenge with the correct kit and equipment and left their event with a smile of their face.”
The series launched in Newham, East London in the Olympic host borough, before travelling the length and breadth of the UK. The events at Willesden (North London), Scunthorpe and Bristol were the largest with nearly 1,000 children taking part in each event. Teesside, Swansea, Corby and Cambridge were also big events, with more than 700 children taking part.
Tata Steel employees volunteered to help at events in Scunthorpe, Rotherham, Swansea, Mold, Birmingham, Teesside and Corby, all close to Tata Steel manufacturing or distribution sites in the UK.
Sue Wood, Headteacher of Hunton CEP School that attended the Maidstone Tata Kids of Steel event, described it as “amazing”. She said: “Our children fully enjoyed participating and the organisation was excellent.”
One child that took part at the Mold event in North Wales commented: “This is the best day ever - and I've been to Disneyland on holiday.”
British triathletes Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee, and Helen Jenkins were also on hand at their local events in Leeds and Swansea to encourage and inspire the children taking part. Members of the British Triathlon Olympic Talent Squad also lent their support including Sky Draper, James Davis and Sophie Coldwell.
In addition, Tata Steel’s IJmuiden plant organised its first children’s triathlon event. Fifty children took part in the Netherlands’ first Tata Steel children’s triathlon on 6 July. The children, aged six to twelve, participated in swimming, cycling and running, with distances varying according to their ages. The swimming took place in open water at Lake Westbroek. All children received a safety briefing and members of the IJmond diving team acted as marshals in the water. Wearing their blue Tata Steel swimming caps, the youngest children took to the water before jumping on a bike for the cycle leg and then completing the running route in great spirits.
The full list of Tata Kids of Steel events in 2011 were as follows:
- East London, Newham – Weds 4 May
- West London, Ealing – Thurs 5
- Cambridge – Fri 6 May
- Edinburgh – Tues 17 May
- Fife – Weds 18 May
- Teesside – Thurs 19 May
- Birmingham – Tues 24 May
- Leeds – Weds 25 May
- Rotherham – Thurs 26 May
- North Wales, Mold – Weds 22 June
- Manchester – Thurs 23 June
- Scunthorpe – Fri 24 June
- Kent, Maidstone – Tues 28 June
- North London, Willesden – Weds 29 June
- Swansea – Tues 5 July
- Bristol – Weds 6 July
- East Sussex, Lewes – Thurs 7 July
- Corby – Fri 8 July
About Tata Steel in Europe
The European operations of Tata Steel (formerly known as Corus) comprise Europe's second largest steel producer. With main steelmaking operations in the UK and the Netherlands, they supply steel and related services to the construction, automotive, packaging, material handling and other demanding markets worldwide.
Tata Steel is one of the world’s top ten steel producers. The combined group has an aggregate crude steel capacity of more than 28 million tonnes and approximately 80,000 employees across four continents.
About British Triathlon
British Triathlon is the National Governing Body for Triathlon, Duathlon and Aquathlon in Great Britain, responsible for raising profile and delivering elite performance of the sport. Triathlon is a fast growing, dynamic and modern Olympic sport with talented world class athletes, coaches and support staff, focused around delivering world class events and medal winning performances.
Great Britain boasts nine current world champions amongst a strong squad of world ranked elite triathletes, alongside emerging talent from our youth development programmes. There are over 700 triathlon events conducted in Great Britain each year including the British Triathlon Super Series, which attracts athletes from all over the world.
British Triathlon aims to promote excellence in our sport, and create opportunities for everyone to achieve their personal triathlon challenges. Tata Steel is the Corporate Partner of British Triathlon and is proud to be enabling the sport of triathlon.