Club of the Year: Monifieth Triathlon Club

Monifieth Triathlon Club is your 2024 Triathlon Scotland Award winner for the Club of the Year. 

Monifieth Triathlon Club (M3) has seen remarkable growth and consolidation over the past 5-10 years, culminating in a stellar 2024.

M3 has cultivated a strong and friendly club ethos, leading to a well-supported annual dinner attended by over 50 people in 2024. This event allowed members to share experiences, enjoy each other’s company, and celebrate achievements with an awards ceremony. While the club experiences the typical turnover of members as people move in and out of the local area, it boasts a loyal core of members who have formed strong friendships and receive robust support in triathlon. M3 is a caring club, benefitting from excellent pastoral care provided by welfare officers and the general ethos of the club and its leadership.

In recent years, M3’s junior section has grown significantly, necessitating the introduction of a waiting list this year. Some coaches, who are also teachers, visited local schools to explain the opportunities triathlon offers. The junior sessions focus on fun, using games to develop skills in the three disciplines. Additionally, the juniors have an annual trip for their own awards. Some junior members have grown up in the club and now coach or attend as adults, showcasing the rewarding growth and development the club fosters. M3 also runs a TriStar open water triathlon at their annual Monikie Triathlon Festival, which in 2024 saw nearly 50 TriStars racing, drawing children from all over Scotland.

This year, M3 organised a beginner’s triathlon that was free to enter, allowing anyone to try the sport. This initiative opened up triathlon to a wider group of people who might not have otherwise considered participating in their first event. The SwimBikeRun Mini was a great success, conducted in a friendly, welcoming, and safe manner thanks to club volunteers, and followed by a social BBQ that facilitated interaction among participants, coaches, and club members.

The number of coaches at M3 has increased by about 25%, with many new members taking on these roles. The club has committed to investing funds to support members undertaking coaching qualifications, benefiting all members by reducing the load on existing coaches and increasing coach-to-athlete ratios in sessions, thus providing a better quality experience.

Monifieth Triathlon Club has truly come together with a strong committee and membership in recent years. This unity has enabled them to host national championships, grow the junior section, create a caring environment for new members, and host an inclusive SwimBikeRun Mini Open Water Triathlon. They have kept membership fees low to ensure accessibility for anyone interested in joining. While the club enjoys serious competition, its ethos remains light-hearted, with an emphasis on friendship, fun, and supporting members in achieving their sporting goals.

Monifieth Triathlon Club’s commitment to community, diversity, and development has made 2024 a landmark year, setting a high standard for the future.