Now in its fifth leg of the race, the BSG Energade Triathlon Series is quickly growing in size and the Junior Series is proving just how well it can keep up with the pace. The event at Pollock Beach promises a lot of action, particularly with the little ones.
Through an initiative driven by BSG to get more children involved in this multi-sport and to get them active and outdoors, 37 young ladies from Victoria Primary School in Grahamstown will enter the Pollock Beach Junior Tri-series. These students will make up 11 teams and five of them have taken up the challenge to compete individually. In an effort to give all students the opportunity to participate, particularly those who are unable to afford the entry fee, BSG has sponsored the entries for all these scholars.
Sports Mistress at Victoria Primary, Michelle Rafferty, says so many children in today's society lead a very sedentary lifestyle which is evident in the number of overweight children today. This is often due to a lack of opportunity and/or good role models with active lifestyles to follow.
Victoria Primary, along with BSG, has encouraged its students to get out there and get active. The school offers the traditional school sports and has a strong focus on sportsmanship and participation. The girls get merits or house points merely for participating. The BSG Energade Junior Triathlon is a natural extension of the message the school is trying to get across to its girls.
“Many girls who are not your usual sports enthusiasts have become fitter and healthier as a result of their involvement,” says Rafferty.
“We feel the need to expose young children to a range of sporting activities so that they develop a love of sport and find what appeals to them,” says Christine Jones, Headmistress at Victoria Primary. BSG's sponsoring of these entries is a way to help children from all walks of life, who might otherwise not have been able to, enjoy this worthwhile opportunity.
Greg Reis, CEO of BSG, says it is very gratifying to have the opportunity to influence children to participate in these types of events. He says social responsibility is very important to BSG. “As leaders, we have a responsibility to do what we can to create a better future for the next generation. Encouraging balanced lifestyles is key to this and a way to meet this end is through sport,” says Reis. “Sport keeps children healthy and active and has the unique ability to break down the barriers that exist in our society by encouraging teamwork.” He says BSG hopes to partner affluent and less privileged schools in an attempt to bring together many children from varying backgrounds.
Playing an important part in the BSG initiative is Kevin Rafferty, the BSG ambassador in the Eastern Cape. “This is the school's first association with triathlons and we are keen to see the sport take off and grow here in Grahamstown. The BSG Energade Triseries is a great way to experience the excitement and thrill of a triathlon,” says Rafferty.
Rafferty, an accomplished sportsman, soccer player, triathlete and an Ironman entrant, says he hopes the girls' participation in this year's event will encourage other children to take part in future events. “The beauty of triathlons in this format is that they allow teams to participate and so broaden the opportunity for more people to enjoy the event. BSG's initiative brings that opportunity within closer reach,” he says.
Schools, especially, are encouraged to enter their youngsters who will compete in various age categories over different distances ranging from a 50m swim, 1.5km cycle and 400m run to a 70m swim, 3km cycle and 600m run. There is also a school's incentive of R5 000 in sports equipment per event for the school that enters the most children.
For further details on the BSG Energade Triathlon Series and to enter the senior event, visit www.bsgenergadetriseries.co.za. Those interested in participating in the BSG Energade Junior Triathlon Series can go to www.juniorseries.co.za or contact Corn'e Grobler on 082 568 0301.
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