Kent’s Dean Ratcliffe became British Triathlon’s National age group Champion in the 45 to 49 year old category last weekend.

Ratcliffe therefore qualified to represent Great Britain in the 2012 Age Group World Championship being held in Auckland New Zealand during October.

Having won the event in Shropshire, Ratcliffe is now setting himself greater challenges: “This is my fourth season competing at International level in triathlon and at the beginning of 2012 I set myself three ambitious goals for this year and those were to medal in all three of the major standard distance (1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run) age group competitions being held in 2012, those being:

1. ETU European Age Group Triathlon Championships, held in Eilat Israel 20th April 2012
2. British Triathlons National Age Group Triathlon Championships, held in Ellesmere, Shropshire 24th June 2012
3. ITU World Age Group Triathlon Championships, held in Auckland, New Zealand 22nd October 2012

“I always start the season slowly and usual get into top shape as the season moves on toward the later stages, however after some real hard work at the beginning of the year, I managed to achieve my 1st goal and win a bronze during the European Championships in April. Since then training has been going well and my performances have been steadily improving.”

“Last Sunday as I lined up at the start of National Age Group Championships (Shropshire Triathlon) I felt quietly confident that I was in good enough form to get a podium place and therefore qualify to represent GB in this years World Championships!”

“The swim didn’t quite go to plan with a serious google malfunction, but after getting out on the bike in 5th place I managed to pull myself back into the lead and hold of the opposition on the run to cross the line in 1st place and pick up Gold.”

“At the moment I’m racing faster than I ever have and I am confident that with some hard work between now and October I can come back from New Zealand with a medal for the Great Britain Age group Team! ”

Triathlon is a massive sport in this country as well as all over the world and with the chances GB have of success in the London olympics along with next years World Age group Championships being staged at Hyde park in London, the sport is set to become even bigger!

If there any local businesses interested in providing sponsorship to Dean so he can achieve at the top level in national and international age group competition then please contact him by e-mail on [email protected]