Triathlon News

The following article was published in the Triathlon Scotland Winter 07/08 Newsletter

David Spencer has copies of the Triathlon Scotland newsletters and the British triathlon handbook. Please get in touch with him if you want to borrow a newsletter or handbook. Contact him at triathlon@thursoasc.org.uk

Thurso Amateur Swimming Club

Thurso is a small town on the coast of the far north of Scotland. The Islands of Orkney plus Dunnet Head, mainland Britain’s most northerly point are both part of the superb view from Thurso.

The Thurso Amateur Swimming Club (TASC) was inaugurated on June 20^th 1966 at the Boy’s Brigade Hall in Thurso before a swimming pool even existed in Thurso. The Thurso Town Council made the far sighted decision that all school children should learn to swim and therefore a pool would be built if the public raised 50% of the estimated costs of £24000.  In May 1967 Thurso Swimming Pool was opened to members of the public. This year the pool celebrated its 40^th anniversary.

With such a start it can be easily understood how both the swimming pool and the swimming club were firmly rooted in the local community. The club, despite drawing on a relatively small community, has been very successful at swimming competitions over the years, punching well above its weight.  Perhaps this is partly due to Thurso’s location. To compete the swimmers have to travel large distances from Thurso and therefore the level of dedication required is necessarily high.

The club has continued to adapt and evolve, adding a Masters section for the more mature swimmers in 2001.

Why is an article about a swimming club in the Triathlon Scotland newsletter? Over the last few years some of the Thurso Swimmers have been competing in the growing sport of Triathlon. This has mainly been at the excellent local events organised by Wick Triathlon Club and Orkney Triathlon Club. I should add that these events are well worth making the journey to the far north for. As a result TASC decided to affiliate this year to Triathlon Scotland. The club recognised that Triathlon was an additional area where the members are competing and that this should be supported. Also triathlon gives the younger athletes an alternative outlet for them to develop their talent plus the cross training also helps the development of their swimming.

Being a swimming club, TASC currently does not have the expertise to train triathletes in cycling and running. The triathletes in TASC supplement their swim training by being members of the local cycling and/or athletics clubs; Caithness Cycling Club and Caithness Amateur Athletics Club. Maybe this shows the nature of the area in that the clubs cooperate on an informal level for the benefit of the athletes.

Currently TASC does not organise any Triathlon events although it does have two swimming events open to other swimming clubs. Perhaps TASC will organise a pool based triathlon in the future. One suggestion for event is a standard distance Triathlon involving an open water swim in Dunnet Bay, a cycle to John O’Groats and a run to Dunnet Head.

TASC has been around for a fair time as a swimming club but is new to Triathlon. Hopefully the club will produce some good triathletes in the future along with the swimmers and maybe produce some exciting new events to the Triathlon Scotland calendar.

Web site: http://www.thursoasc.org.uk/triathlon.html

Supplementary information taken from: A history of Thurso Amateur Swimming Club by K R Melhuish."

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