Wyre Council and Fylde Coast YMCA are delighted to be able to support local athlete Christine Brook by awarding her with a performance pass for our leisure centres.
Thornton’s Christine Brook is Estonia-bound, having just received confirmation that she has qualified to represent Great Britain once again to race in the 2020 Standard Distance Triathlon European Championships in Tartu next summer. Christine’s qualification into Team GB’s Triathlon Squad meant she was eligible to apply to the council and Fylde Coast YMCA for a Performance Pass, which she has now been granted.
The 55-year-old local triathlete has been selected to represent Team GB due to her recent performances - it’s safe to say Christine is propelled to show what she can do. The selection criteria for Christine requires that she finish in the top four of her age category from the pre-qualifying races set by British Triathlon. Once all races are completed, athletes are then notified by British Triathlon if they qualify to race in the European or World Championships.
Christine is no stranger to representing Team GB and has competed for the British Triathlon Team for the last two years - with her most notable performances at the European Middle-Distance Championships in Denmark, 2017 and in Romania this year. She also qualified to race in the European Championship Sprint distance event in Glasgow last year, which for Christine was a first at the shorter, but faster distance.
Christine says: “There are so many talented men and women in all the age group categories especially when you come together at the European or World races competing against different nationalities, it really is tough. Each time it's a real honour to represent Great Britain and to wear the GB kit is very special”
The Performance Pass allows access to local YMCA Health and Fitness centres on the Fylde Coast through an application process where certain criteria must be met. So far this year the YMCA and Wyre Council have assisted three local, aspiring GB athletes to become the best they can be and inspire the next generation.
On successfully gaining a Performance Pass, Christine added, “Such is the breadth of the YMCA Health and Fitness offer it allows me to adapt and combine my training for all of the different triathlon disciplines. The YMCA has an excellent swim, cycle and running programme that will assist me to improve my agility, stamina, strength, speed and power. I look forward to using the YMCA facilities in order to enhance my training. Next year I'm looking to qualify for another European Middle-Distance event. None of this is possible without the help and backing of the YMCA and Wyre Council.”
Councillor Lynne Bowen, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Wyre Council comments, “It’s great that together with Fylde Coast YMCA the council can support athletes such as Christine in this way. This initiative is designed to help Wyre’s sporting starts to be at the top of their game and represent the country at the highest level. We wish Christine the best of luck in her training and at the championships next year.”