Triathlon Hawke’s Bay wins Grassroots Club for second year running
To be named Grassroots Club of the Year for the second year was humbling for the couple at the helm of Triathlon Hawke’s Bay.
Ngaia and Bruce Richardson were proud to receive the accolade at the Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards at the weekend. The club was also a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year Award and Emerging Talent of the Year Award.
Despite all the challenges in another COVID-affected year, the club with Ngaia as General Manager, and Bruce as Race Director, has continued to grow and provide a range of sporting events.
Ngaia, Bruce and the committee have encouraged many people to give multi-sport a go with a record number of members signing up to the club.
Triathlon Hawke’s Bay is a small organisation with a very small team but had more than 3000 participants in its events last year.
Ngaia says they’ve tried to promote a strong club culture, supporting and uplifting people to participate in events, sometimes for the first time, and reach their potential.
During the COVID-19 Red Traffic Light setting the club managed to run safe events, limiting participants to 100 and managing waiting lists for other willing competitors.
“It was the first time the club had needed waiting lists for events,” Ngaia says.
Last year the club also launched its Multisport Youth Squad for those aged between 7-19 years.
“This has been a roaring success with nearly 100 new members! Previously we had nine members under 19. It has encouraged young people to get active in a fun and inclusive way.
“The smiles on the kids faces and watching them achieve their goals is what gives us the warm fuzzies and instils our grassroots culture in the club,” Ngaia says.
Outgoing club General Managers Bruce and Ngaia Richardson with Club President George Massingham. Photo/Supplied.
The Multisport Youth Squad has been coached by Geoff and Sam Griffiths who take over the General Managers role when the Richardsons step down next month.
Geoff and Sam are accomplished athletes, who moved to Hawke’s Bay in 2020 with their daughter.
Geoff has completed nine Ironmans, and more than 30 marathons with a personal best of 2 hours and 21 minutes. He represented his home country of South Africa at the World Lifesaving Champs in 2004 and is currently coaching at Pacific Surf Lifesaving Club in Napier.
Samantha also represented South Africa at the World ITU Triathlon Championships in 2001 and has qualified for the World Ironman Championships in Kona three times. She hopes to qualify once more and finally take her slot with her husband and daughter by her side supporting her.
Triathlon Hawke’s Bay Multisport Youth Squad coaches Geoff and Sam Griffiths. Photo/Supplied.
The Griffiths are both passionate about the sport of triathlon.
“We both love the sport. We competed for a number of years and now as mentors and coaches, we can give back our years of experience.
“Thanks to Bruce and Ngaia we will be taking over a very successful club and look forward to keeping the great work going and hopefully producing a few champions in the future too!”
