British Triathlon Awards Night

I was nominated for Scottish Young Coach of the Year by Lyndsey and Ali in which you have to be 21 or younger, so I only just made it. Somehow I won that and was shortlisted for the British Triathlon Awards. A few weeks later I received an e-mail saying I had won which was AMAZING, however I was sworn to secrecy for ages.

The awards night was down in Leicester, England. This was unfortunate but we all have to go there sometimes. Triathlon Scotland put on a party bus to take 8 of us down so we set off on Saturday 12^th November. I was thinking of all the hardcore of EUTri runners competing in Braids Hill that day... but soon forgot about them when I remembered Crispy Cream Donuts were on sale in English service stations. Anyway, we got to the Barcelo Hinckley Island Hotel for the awards night safe and sound.

I was, of course, sporting a very cool kilt for the evening. There was a champagne reception where we looked for the Brownlee brothers... but no sign of them yet. All the Scots were sat at one table where, between 8 of us, they provided 4 bottles of wine which was not bad at all!

There were several awards for elite and age group athletes before our meal which was amazing! Much cheaper and far better tasting than the SU ball! Then after the meal was my moment of glory.

My name was called out for “Sexiest Coach Ever” but they were calling it “British Young Coach of the Year 2011”. There was a massive roar from the Scottish table, fireworks went off and a pipe band started playing “Loch Lomond” as I made my way to the front. I was presented with a trophy, a gift certificate and ... chocolates? Everyone else received a bottle of champagne! Thankfully, they had mixed up my prize with the Young Volunteer of the Year and I got my champagne in the end. I was interviewed in private and asked why I did Triathlon, to which I replied “so I can eat what I want and not get fat”. Needless to say, the guy was not impressed.

Later that evening I managed to meet Alistair and Jonathon Brownlee, Helen Jenkins and Chrissie Wellington; all of whom have won a world title this year. They were all so nice and were more than happy to sign the EUTri t-shirt and get their photo with Sexy Dec. It was well worth a trip to England to see those guys, and it felt amazing to get an award for whipping EUTri’ers into shape.

‘Mon the EUTri’

by Dechlan Wilson