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| A Short History
White Oak Triathlon Club was established in 1988 by a small group of Leisure
Attendants working at White Oak Leisure Centre, one in particular persuaded
the others that it was a good idea to swim then get out the water and
get on your bike while still wet then finish with a run no matter how
cold it was outside, surprisingly enough the club soon grew from strength
to strength. The following year (1989) saw the start of the first annual
White Oak Triathlon which was a great success. The club has always been
run by a small committee and would not exist if it wasn’t for their
efforts. A couple of regular members have been attending since the early
days and have seen members come and go some returning after two or three
years having missed the enjoyment and banter of the club or just wishing
to regain their fitness. In 2003 the club made the decision to change
its name from White Oak Triathlon Club to White Oak Tri Squad.
Membership
The club attracts members from Dartford, Swanley and the surrounding areas
and membership numbers are currently in the region of 80 members. The
club has both an adult section and is in the process of developing a junior
section for 8 - 16 year olds. The junior section is growing and has a
number of members who compete for the club on a regular basis.
Events
The club hosts an annual adults triathlon and this year it was the 16th
Annual event. The whole event is based around the White Oak Leisure Centre
with the bike course going out through Swanley Village, Farningham, Hawley,
Dartford and Bexley. This year it attracted a field of approximately 300
competitors. The club also hosts a Junior event for 8 – 16 year
olds this year was the 7th Annual event. It attracts a field of approximately
250 competitors. This event is based at the North West Kent College –
Dartford campus as the route needs to be off road for the juniors.
Club Performance
As a club members participate and compete at all levels from novice to
international. Over distances from sprint to ironman and can boast some
25 ironmen/women members. The club has annual Club Championships which
are based on a series of local and national races with competition across
all age groups. Club members also compete in running, cross-country and
cycling only events. Some seem to search out the toughest events around
and participate for the fun of it! A number of members over the years
have competed for Great Britain and this year two members competed in
the ITU World Championships in Lausanne. Gemma Anderson finished 27th
in her age category and Gary Bryant finished 23rd. Over the years club
members have participated in many types of event in this country and around
the world and have travelled to Austria, Honalulu, Mexico, Nice, France,
Denmark, America to name but a few.
Training
The club hosts regular sessions each week, throughout the year, in all
three disciplines. Anyone interested in joining us is welcome to come
along and see what we do – We offer the first swim session free!
The Wednesday swim session is our Club Night and most members attending
this session.Swim - There are three swim sessions each week on Monday,
Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
Monday: 9:00-10:00pm. North West Kent College, Dartford Campus. This is
usually an un-coached session in the 25m pool there, but at least one
lane will be doing drills and/or sets if people want to join in.
Wednesday: 9:15-10:15pm (meeting from 9pm) White Oak Leisure Centre, Hilda
May Avenue, Swanley. Coached, structured session in the 36.66yds pool.
This our main weekly session and is well supported, members like to catch
up and swap triathlon tips and stories once the session has finished.
Sunday: 9:00-10:00pm White Oak Leisure Centre. Un-coached session, ideal
for brushing up on technique.
Open Water Swimming - During the summer months of 2006, we have been meeting
up every Monday evening between at 7:00pm to practice swimming in open
water with Sevenoaks Tri Club. This is done at Haysden Lake, a good-sized
lake with very clean water near Tonbridge, off the A21. Training is very
informal, there are 2 circuits around the Lake (marked with buoys); a
small loop (about 500m) and a large loop (about 875m) -People usually
meet and arrange to swim in groups. This is a great way to make yourself
comfortable with swimming in open water before you face the drama of an
open water mass start race.The water quality is checked regularly by the
council who provide Sevenoaks with a license to use the Lake. There is
always a motorised safety boat in attendance. The license allows swimming
from1900hrs until dusk. - Please do not swim before 7:00 as it puts the
license in jeopardy. For insurance reasons all swimmers MUST be BTA members
and everyone will need to sign in each week and provide their BTA number.
The cost for swimming is only £2.
Bike - Bike rides are organised by Graham Hiscock for Sunday mornings
throughout the year meeting at Londis in Bexley Village (in the car park).
These are generally arranged on Wednesday evenings after swimming or via
the White Oak e-group and details appear on the home page. During the
summer months there are Thursday evening rides which alternate between
25 mile pace rides and brick sessions.
Turbo sessions - During the winter months of November through to February
we have a coached turbo session on Monday evenings in the gym at Dartford
Campus of The North West College prior to the swim session. These are
one hour sessions from 8:00pm and are followed by the normal one hour
swim session for those wishing to do both.
Run - Many White Oak members also run with the Dartford Road Runners;
based at the Princes Golf & Leisure Club, Darenth Road, Dartford.
They train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, meeting at around 6:30pm.
Social Events
The club has a big social side and members enjoy different types of weekends
away, training weekends, holidays, BBQ’s and a presentation evening.
There are regular cycle trips which this year included a Spring Cycle
Tour to France and a Mountain bike weekend in Wales both of which are
very successful and attract a lot of members. A group from the club also
organise an annual ski-ing trip.
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