Around 950 children from local primary schools enjoyed a fun and inspiring triathlon event at Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre on Tuesday 30 June with all participants trying the three disciplines of triathlon; swimming, cycling and running.
The non-competitive event was coordinated and organised by The Brownlee Foundation and Freedom Leisure, the not-for-profit leisure trust that manages the leisure centre on behalf of Southend-on-Sea City Council, and overseen by a dedicated team of volunteers who helped ensure every child had a safe, enjoyable and memorable day out.
Throughout the day, the children took part at their own pace in a friendly, positive and inspiring atmosphere. The event focused on giving every child the opportunity to experience the three disciplines of triathlon regardless of ability or previous experience, building confidence and enjoyment rather than competition.
The Brownlee Foundation, established by Olympic triathletes Alistair Brownlee and Jonny Brownlee, aims to inspire children to lead active lifestyles through sport. Its events are designed to break down barriers to participation and encourage young people to discover the benefits of regular physical activity.
Today was all about giving children the chance to have fun, try something new and discover that being active can be enjoyable. There were no winners or losers. Every child who took part achieved something to be proud of, whether that was completing all three activities or simply having the confidence to give them a go. We were delighted to welcome The Brownlee Foundation and hundreds of local school children to Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre. It was especially inspiring to see the heartwarming smiles on everyone’s faces and the camaraderie shown by all the schools, cheering on their peers as they completed their events.
Ivan Horsfall Turner
Other key partners who played an instrumental role in delivering the event and supporting the initiative included Southend-on-Sea City Council, Active Essex, Swim England and the local School Sports Partnership. Their invaluable support was central to the event's success and demonstrated the power of collaboration. By working together, these organisations created an unforgettable experience for the children of Southend.
Volunteers supported participants throughout the day by guiding activities, encouraging the children and helping the event run smoothly from start to finish. At the end of the event, every child received a goody-bag and their all-important medal that they wore with pride and a real sense of achievement.