New team to launch in 2010
Wiltshire-based tri team set to make UK launch next year
A new club is to hit the tri circuit in 2010. Team Endurance is a Wiltshire-based outfit targeting many types of endurance events. Aiming for a broader appeal, the team decided to recruit people who are proven in the fields of triathlon, duathlon, cycling, Xterra and running.
Brain-child of Jon Fearne, a well established endurance coach, Team Endurance is set to compete at national and international events from 2010 onwards. It has already sent out several athletes towards the end of the 2009 season, winning the mixed team event at the recent VO2 Dirty Double, as well as a Florida Ironman participant at the beginning of November.
Sponsorship is always going to be the key to the success of a new team. While money is tight in the current economy, getting a good group of sponsors secured for the season was critical and ‘Team Endurance’ achieved that before it started the recruiting process.
“When I looked at the idea of setting up a team in early 2009 with one of our main sponsors, we wanted to try and put together a package for the athletes that would be financially rewarding and at the same time, create a team that could compete at the highest level,” explains Fearne. “As with any new team, we got our fair share of rejections when searching out sponsors, but we’re delighted to say that we are now fully supported, meaning we can get the 2010 season underway with confidence.”
The team has raised over £12,000 in sponsorship deals to date. Each team member is being supplied with training and race kit, contribution to entry fees, discounted bikes and accessories as well as training and race-day nutrition. The sponsors for 2010 include Genesis Pure (health supplements), JF Multisport (endurance sports coaching), Stonehenge Cycles (Salisbury’s leading bike store), Fusion Sports (apparel) and Mule Bar (race and training nutrition).
For the first season, the team has 7 athletes…
Shaun Benfield (43) – a GB Age Group member, multiple AG winner and long course specialist
Dan Brunton (36) – AG winner and Team winner at Sprint and Super-Sprint
Corrine Clark (25) – GB Age Group member and winner of Ladies and AG at regional sprint and Olympic events
Jon Fearne (33) – a regular on the Ironman circuit around the world, consistently placing top 75
Chris Newton (35) – multiple Sportive winner and Ironman competitor
Pippa Tanner (32) – Xterra AG winner
Dave Woodgate (36) – Pro triathlete who consistently placed in the top 15 at Ironman and Ironman 70.3 in the UK in 2009
“It has long been my ambition to put together a top-class team,” concludes Fearne. “We are really excited about the new venture and each of the team members is committed to racing hard and hoping to continue the winning ways. We hope that our launch season goes well and act as the springboard to launch a well respected and successful team for the future.”
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
