Jersey’s Supertri weekend combined elite racing with community sport and fundraising.
Alongside the Pro Series Final on Sunday 6 September, athletes supported local events, visited Acorn and met young islanders.
UBS and Supertri collected donations for Acorn’s Sports Kit Recycling Initiative, which sells good-quality sports clothing and equipment at affordable prices to support the charity’s work.
Alex Yee, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Hayden Wilde and Jersey’s Siena Stephens delivered donations and met the Acorn team on Friday. Further donations were collected during the Supertri Corporate Challenge, presented by UBS.
Supertri CEO and Co-Founder Michael D’hulst joined former Olympic triathlete Tim Don at Swim Run Jersey, while other athletes and team members attended parkrun at Les Quennevais. Supertri commentators also supported runners at the Hearty Half Marathon.
Michael D’hulst said: “What makes Jersey so special for Supertri is that the whole community gets involved. We love bringing the best athletes in the world here, but inspiring the athlete in everyone is just as important to us. The weekend showed how sport can bring people together. That community spirit is why we love coming back to Jersey.”
Sunday’s RBC Race for the Kids Jersey raised funds for Jersey Child Care Trust, with participants walking, running, scooting and pushing prams around the Waterfront.
Victoria College Preparatory School won the Supertri Champion School competition for the second consecutive year after registering the most participants. Pupils received the trophy from three-time Olympic medallist Jonny Brownlee, who had announced his retirement from professional triathlon earlier in the weekend.
They then accompanied athletes onto the course ahead of the final, alongside members of Big Maggy’s Tristars, which develops Jersey’s young triathletes.
Dan Pateman, Headteacher of Victoria College Preparatory School, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our boys have been named winners of the RBC Race for the Kids competition for the second year running. While winning is a fantastic achievement, what made Sunday’s event truly special was the opportunity for our pupils to meet some incredible world-class triathletes and walk alongside them as they made their way to the start of the race.”
Pupil Toby Collins said: “Meeting the triathletes was amazing. Walking with them and talking to them made me feel really inspired. Winning the competition was brilliant, but getting to be part of such a special day is something I’ll never forget.”
Dan Pateman added: “Events like these show children what can be achieved through commitment, perseverance and a positive attitude.”
Picture credit – Matthew Sharp
