Going that extra mile with GB triathlete Chris Wood
Chris Wood from Beckbury in Shropshire, is one of an elite group of athletes supported by the GB Triathlon Team as a member of the national squad. With races throughout the UK and beyond, planning and logistics play an important part in the winning formula, which is where Sutton Maddock Vehicle Rental from Telford is able to help Chris in his quest to achieve world championship status.
Sutton Maddock with an impressive track record itself in vehicle rental, is providing vehicles for GB Triathlete Chris Wood to support his punishing training and racing commitments in the UK.
Chris Wood said: “Although I have qualified this year as a member of the GB squad, I get no direct financial support and rely on companies like Sutton Maddock Vehicle Rental for sponsorship to help me meet my race commitments.”
“My goal this year is to qualify for the IronMan World Championship in Kona Hawaii in October 2011, where 1800 athletes will swim, bike and run in a 140.6 mile journey described as the ultimate test of mind, body and spirit” said Chris.
37 year old Chris only started competing seriously in the various formats of the triathlon and the corresponding duathlon (10k run, 40k bike, 5k run) in 2008 but has raced his way to global recognition in his age-group, representing Team GB in Ireland against top European competition.
Plans for this year include the World Duathlon Championships in Spain in September against a world select group of duathletes, for which Chris has already set a qualifying time at the ETU European Duathlon Championships in Limerick in April.
Next on his list is the IronMan (2.4 mile swim, 112 miles cycle, 26.2 mile run) race in Regensburg, Germany in August, where Chris hopes to achieve a 9 hours 20 mins qualifying time for the world championship in Hawaii.
Finally this year Chris hopes to qualify for the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in Nevada, USA in November.
Tom Spickernell from Sutton Maddock Vehicle Rental said: “We are delighted to be able to support Chris in his ambition to achieve world championship status in the Duathlon and IronMan challenge, where the motto is “anything is possible’ which nicely matches the vision for our rental business in Telford.”
Perhaps Tom from Sutton Maddock should note that Chris Wood’s next ambiton is to complete in the gruelling 3000 mile Race Across America – which might push the idea of local vehicle rental a bit far?
We wish Chris Wood from Beckbury, Shropshire, every success as he races with the local Black Country Triathletes and the GB Triathlon Team.