joined the club after completing my GoTri training, amazing club and amazing coaches — Thomas W.
Kingfisher Triathletes was started in 1984 by John Lunt, Bob Arnold, Chris Walsh and Gary Martin. All four were keen to start a club after taking part in the first triathlon held in Reading in 1983. At a similar time Peter Moysey had started a club catering for elite athletes at Thames Turbo. John and the guys thought it would be a good idea to start a club to cater for varying ability levels. As he and Chris Walsh were managers at the Kingfisher pool in those days, this was the perfect place to centre the club, and Kingfisher Triathletes was born. The very first Kingfisher Triathlon was held in 1985. As legend goes, 20 or so competitors all started together at Hampton Pool, then cycled via a route to Richmond Park - Kingston Gate, where their running shoes were waiting for them - they had been taken by marshals in cars! They then ran to Ham Gate and back to complete the triathlon.
The following year the Stragglers Triathlon was held, run by Peter Moysey, and local triathletes started to emerge, among them some now famous names, including Spencer Smith, Tim Don, and Stuart Hayes. Kingfisher Triathletes was by this time well established with a membership of 60-80 each year. Members of the club, some of whom are still active now, took part in the National Grand Prix Series, and a few went abroad to race in Nice, Guernsey, Roth Ironman in Germany and even Hawaii Ironman, with varying levels of success. These days club members take part in the wide variety of races the multi-sport scene has to offer. The club also currently organises the Kingfisher Aquathlon (formerly known as Morden 6n6 Aquathlon), which is one of the races in the London League series, although this does not involve any transporting of trainers! To this day the club continues to cater for a wide variety of ability levels, ranging from the complete beginner to GB representatives.
