Triathlon Ireland eBulletin – 14/09/09

Welcome to the first of our eBulletins which are intended to keep the wider membership better informed of what actually takes place within Triathlon Ireland. This method of communication was suggested back in February at the AGM and at last we are able to fulfil a promise. My apologies for the delay, but a simple lack of time has been the reason. Which brings me nicely onto the main theme of this particular missive.

Triathlon has been experiencing incredible changes across the country over the last few years, with more races than ever before and an ever growing number of participants. To date, your sport has been organised at national level by a very small team of volunteers and just the over worked Amanda running the office. Yet members of TI expect, quite rightly, for races to be insured and sanctioned with proper officials in place, race results to be made available within hours of their finish, membership queries to be answered, National Series points to be awarded, international selections to be made, coaches to be trained, child protection policies to be put in place, elite athletes to be identified and nurtured etc. etc.. This is hard bloody work.

But we’re hopefully seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Triathlon is now a sport which is recognised and funded by the sports councils on both sides of the border. This funding is allowing us to put in place a professional structure, in line with other Olympic sports. But funding also brings responsibility, and we are expected to increase the accessibility of the sport and involve more women, juniors and those with disabilities at all levels, from club to international. Two important steps in this process are the appointments of a Performance Director (P/T) and a Chief Executive Officer. Interviews have already taken place for the Performance Director post and short listing is under way for the CEO role.

As a funded sport, all appointments are overseen by both the Irish Sports Council and SportNI. Representatives of both bodies approve all job specifications and sit on interview panels. Their HR guidance is invaluable.

Hopefully this has provided a little insight into the workings of Triathlon Ireland. I will endeavour to supply regular eBulletins over the coming weeks and months, so if there are any particular topics you would like covered, drop me an email and I’ll try to oblige.

Yours in Sport

Conal Heatley

Secretary, Triathlon Ireland

secretary@triathlonireland.com

Tel: 00353 83 374 6607