AN athletics club is celebrating 15 years of success and achievement at home and abroad.

The Hexham-based One Life Triathlon club helps both novice and experienced athletes reach their goals and ambitions in the categories of swimming, cycling and long-distance running.

And since it was formed in 2004, the organisation has catapulted some of its members onto the international stage. Members packed out Hexham Auction Mart for the club’s annual awards evening, where they also celebrated the 15th anniversary of One Life Triathlon.

In that time, the club’s most successful athlete over the standard distance triathlon, Barry Jameson, has scooped a hatful of medals, which include a World Championship gold in 2008, European golds in 2009 & 2013, and many other bronze & silver medals.

Other international successes include Rob West’s silver medal in 2010, and Alan Copland’s bronze in 2008, both at the European Championships.

At the sprint distance, highlights include European Championship gold medals for Jan Oliver in 2010, and Claire Jackson in 2011, with James Dickinson (2010) and Hannah Pinkney (2016) also winning European silver medals.

At national level, the club has regularly produced age group champions at both sprint and standard distances, including Jameson, Copland, West, Jackson, and Tim Wylie.

Numerous juniors have been selected for the Great Britain age group team, including Mark Todhunter, Fergus Robinson, Alistair Maxwell , Hannah Pinkney, Toby Routledge, Sean Wylie, Freya Murphy, Ellie Bluck, and Paddy Lally, as well as for the North-East regional team.

Last year saw success at all levels of competition with highlights including a gold medal for Jackson (F55-59), and silver medal for Mike Little (M50-54), at the British Triathlon Sprint Championships. Little followed this up with bronze (M50-55) at the Triathlon England National Championships alongside Wylie, who also gained bronze in his age category (M55-59).

Junior Tabitha Robson gained bronze medal at T1 level at the Regional Junior Grand Prix. The club operates under the auspices of Triathlon England, and is run by members. It has recently been awarded a Trimark Bronze Award, which reflects the quality of club management, its activity programme, duty of care and welfare, and community links.

European bronze medallist Alan Copland was guest of honour at this year’s One Life Triathlon awards evening.

The North-East athlete inspired the club’s members by recalling his career highlights, which include his medal at the European Standard Distance Championships in 2008.

He also presented awards to both junior and senior members for their achievements in 2018.

The coaches’ junior athlete of the year awards went to: Daisy McClintock (T3 Girl); Tabitha Robson (T2 Girl); Anna Cowie (T1 Girl); Emilia Stobbart (Tristarts Girl); Benji Southern (T1 Boy); and Charlie Jackson (T2 Boy).

The coaches’ adult athlete of the year awards were received by Mike Little and Rose Todhunter.

Becky Frankel, who was awarded an MBE in 2016 for her tireless campaign to improve road safety, received the Pughe award for her contribution to One Life Triathlon and the wider community.

A memorable year of achievement saw Rose Todhunter compete in the European middle distance duathlon in Denmark, while Rose and her husband Derek Todhunter lined-up in the European Duathlon in Ibiza, with Brendon and Claire Jackson.

At the British Triathlon Sprint Championships, Claire Jackson won gold in the F55-59 category, while Mike Little was a silver medallist in the M50-54 category.

Little won bronze in the M50-54 event at Triathlon England’s National Championships, while Tim Wylie took the bronze prize in the M55-59 category.

Rebecca Wren and Lisa Thornley competed in the Youth Super Series, as part of the UK Elite Elite Youth Triathlon Series. The club was represented at the Junior Inter-Regional Championship Race by Harry Courtney, who competed as part of the North-East T3 Relay team.

Tabitha Robson was third in the T1 girls’ category at the North-East Regional Junior Grand Prix.

After 15 years of outstanding success, One Life Triathlon is looking to the future.

The popular club now has over 130 members from the ages of seven to 60-plus, and also has a new vision.

To mark the start of its next chapter, One Life Triathlon has unveiled a new logo which has been designed by one of its members.

The club’s communications officer Paul Cowie said: “The new logo represents the modern and expanded nature of the club.

“It symbolizes the various elements of triathlon, swimming lanes, a runner, and the circle of a bike wheel.” Paul said that the club was proud of its history, and now wanted to build on its existing links with the community moving forward.

He added: “The club is run by the members with an elected committee who organise structured training sessions for all abilities with a simple aim of creating a friendly and welcoming environment to train, socialise and compete in.

"We have an excellent training programme which helps both novice and experienced triathletes reach their goals and ambitions.” For information visit britishtriathlon.org