Dennis Walmsley has been a successful distance runner for many, many years now.

Marathons, ultra-marathons… you name it, he’s done it.

But one thing he’d never done until last year was a triathlon.

Now 56, he freely admits that it was something he felt he had to do after forming North Cotswold Tri and Run Club in 2016 which, as the name suggests, is a club that caters for triathletes as well as runners and duathletes.

“I felt it was obligatory,” he said.

So how did he get on?

“The main thing was to see if I enjoyed it,” he continued. “I did enjoy it although I found the swimming difficult, I’m not a good swimmer.”

The competition in question was a sprint triathlon in Bicester, and it can’t have gone too badly for Walmsley because he has committed to taking part in a middle distance triathlon at Cotswold Water Park next year.

His wife Lucy – who is the real triathlete in the family – has also entered the event so husband and wife will be going head to head.

Dennis Walmsley remains first and foremost a runner, so who is favourite to win at Ashton Keynes in June?

“It will be interesting,” laughed Walmsley. “I’ll be behind her in the swim and probably in the bike as well. I’ll have to try to catch her on the run!”

That won’t be easy because Lucy is a very decent triathlete. She is the current British triathlon champion in the 45-49 age group at both the standard and middle distance, and has competed in the Kona Ironman World Championships after having qualified as British Ironman champion

And she is just one of a number of very good competitors at the North Cotswold Tri and Run Club which has close on 40 members.

“It’s stable, we’re always trying to attract new people and expand,” said Walmsley. “We’ve got another 23 members in the thriving junior section which runs from March to October.”

So who are some of the competitors who have been turning in impressive performances?

“Roger Day is British champion in the 70-74 category after winning the Bolton Ironman,” said Walmsley with obvious pride. “He also qualified for the world half Ironman championships in South Africa where he finished sixth in his age category.”

And there are others at the club who are doing very well as well.

“Marie and Phil Brush are duathletes,” Walmsley continued. “They’ve represented Great Britain at the world and European duathlon championships along with Seanin Gilmore who represented Ireland. Marie was a bronze medalist in both in the 40-44 age category.

“Then there’s Pauline Teague who has competed for Great Britain at three European Championships, standard distance at Lisbon, two sprints at Düsseldorf and Glasgow and also cycled for Great Britain at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Albi, France.

“Our chairman Steve Edwards, whose aim is to run 1,000 marathons, currently holds a number of world records including most completed organised marathons and over 500 marathons under three hours, 20 minutes. He’s 56 and he’s on about 847 at present.”

Walmsley, who is vice-chairman of the club, is keen to stress that the North Cotswold Tri and Run Club caters for everyone – triathletes, duathletes and runners from beginners to elite.

Members meet for weekly interval training sessions at the Runner Bean Gym in Upper Rissington and there are also weekly run sessions in Moreton-in-Marsh.

Monthly swimming sessions are held under the watchful eye of swimming teacher Olivia Charles – known as Izzy – at Bourton Leisure Centre and a cycle ride is organised every quarter.

Tom Williams has been one of the organisers of the cycling and he has also been instrumental in setting up the junior section of the club, who during the summer trained every Saturday at Far Peak Climbing Centre in Northleach.

It’s a very busy club and Walmsley, who was a member of Bourton Roadrunners for more than 30 years, is delighted with the way things are going.

“Claire Harrison and Steve Edwards both took part in the 10 marathons in 10 days in Windermere,” he added. “That’s some feat and we’ve just had two ladies, Ann Hillary and Kelly Read, achieve their very first win jointly at the Fan Dance 2018, a 16-miler up and around Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales.

“This year has been phenomenal in terms of the medals won for such a small club.”

And Walmsley has been doing his bit as well.

“I took part in the British Masters Marathon Championships at Chester and I won the M55 title,” he said. “I ran the fourth fastest time in that age group in Britain this year. I hadn’t run a marathon for six years.”

That’s some going of course, and Walmsley is equally determined that the North Cotswold Tri and Run Club continues going from strength to strength.

And it certainly does appear to be a healthy club if the comments of members are anything to go by.


“Being someone who never wanted to be part of a club, I am so pleased I changed my mind,” said Lisa Cartlidge. “I have made some amazing friends, such amazing encouraging people who support us all at whatever level. NCTR rocks.”

Ann Hillary said: “I’ve never been part of a club before but have thoroughly loved every moment of being part of NCTR over the last few years.

“Being surrounded by like-minded people who keep on achieving so much together and as individuals, the constant support and encouragement means so much to every one of us, you’re all fantastic.”

Pippa Brown added: “Losing five stone and running six half marathons and two sub four marathons, I wouldn’t have managed that without the club.”

While Laura Williams said: “I don’t think I’ve achieved anything noteworthy (yet), but I’ve made an amazing friendship group who have given me the confidence to aim for things I didn’t think I was capable of before joining NCTR.”