Angela Collorick-Brush and British Paratriathlon champion, Tom Perkins did both their sport and their region proud on Wednesday 23 May by taking part in the Olympic Torch Relay on its 8,000 mile journey around the UK.
Angela Collorick-Brush, who works for GE Aviation, has an infectious enthusiasm for triathlon and single-handedly encouraged many of her colleagues to give the sport a try. The culmination of this effort was a local triathlon in which over sixty of her fellow GE employees took part.
Speaking before receiving the Flame, she commented: “To be given this honour, for being part of something I love doing - triathlon - is amazing. I may never win a triathlon race, but for a few moments on 23rd May, I’ll feel like the most important person in the whole world. I just hope I don't drop the torch!”
Angela carried the Torch on its way through Nailsea in Somerset near the start of Wednesday’s leg. A few hours and several Torchbearers later the Flame was passed to British Paratriathlon champion Tom Perkins.
Tom Perkins is a member of the British Paratriathlon Performance Programme’s affiliate squad and will be racing in this weekend’s Tata Steel British Paratriathlon Championships aiming to retain his British Tri 4 title won in 2011. Tom carried the Torch through his home town of Chippenham in Wiltshire.
“I am delighted to be able to carry the Torch, especially as it will be in my home town,” he said.
Angela and Tom are two of over fifty members of the triathlon community chosen to be Torchbearers, representing every level of the sport in the UK from volunteers to elite triathletes.
An average of 115 Torchbearers per day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000-mile journey around the UK this summer before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July. Its journey will take the Flame to within 10 miles of 95% of the UK population.
The triathlon community will also be looking forward to the triathlon events, which are set to be the most memorable of the London 2012 Olympic Games with the women’s race taking place on Saturday 4 August at 9am and the men’s on Tuesday 7 August at 11:30am. Triathlon will be one of the few free-to-view sports during the London 2012 Olympic Games, with much of Hyde Park open and un-ticketed during the events.
Fans can watch the action at a number of iconic London landmarks including the south side of the Serpentine, The Wellington Arch, and Buckingham Palace, as well as plenty of areas within Hyde Park to view the event. To find out more and start planning your triathlon events visit www.britishtriathlon.org/london-2012
