A Melksham man has been selected to represent Great Britain at the ITU World Triathlon Championships which takes place on 31st August.
Dave Walder will compete at the sprint distance triathlon which consists of a 750m open water swim, 20k bike ride and a 5k run. The championships are in Edmonton, Canada and will represent a milestone in a sport he only took up just a few years ago.
Having grown up as a keen swimmer for Bradford on Avon ASC Dave never took up triathlon until his mid-thirties after being encouraged by friends to give it a go. Since then, he has progressed rapidly with Trowbridges’s Hot Chilli Triathlon Club and will represent Great Britain next month.
Dave said, “A couple of friends had started triathlon and suggested I give it ago so I began with a couple of local aquathons (swim & run) as I did not have a road bike. I think I was hooked from the first open water swim in the River Avon! At the end of last season my Hot Chilli Triathlon club coach Richard Smith said I had the potential to qualify for the worlds in 2014, so that was my goal set and my winter training had real purpose.
“When I finished my first qualifying race in 5th place I thought I had missed out as I needed to be in 4th for an automatic place in the GB team for Canada, but a couple of the athletes in front of me were elite and therefore not counted. When I was notified by the GB team coach, I was chuffed to bits and excited to be off to Canada.
“My realistic goal for the worlds is a top 20 finish in my age group but I have a stretch target of a top ten placing and that would be amazing.
“I would like to thank my wife Jessica and my team mates at Hot Chilli Trowbridge, including the coach Richard Smith and the rest of the team for the fantastic support they have given me. The sport is a fantastic way to keep fit and have fun at the same time. Whatever your ability and goals are, triathlon is there for everyone.”
The trip to Canada is Dave thousands of pounds as he receives no funding. He is looking for sponsors from local companies to help with some of the costs and equipment required.
If you would like to sponsor Dave contact him on thewalder@gmail.com
