ABOUT BTC
A friendly club welcoming beginners through to experienced triathletes across Bassetlaw
WHO ARE WE?
Bassetlaw Triathlon Club (BTC) was created in 2012 with the support of Bassetlaw Council and local organisations as part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy and has thrived since then due to the hard work and dedication of our committee and coaching team.
Our small club prides itself on being very active and supportive of current and new members – with the most of our members competing at some level in UK and abroad each year. We are primarily based in Worksop, with many of our 100 members living nearby or in the surrounding areas such as Retford, wider Bassetlaw District, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North-East Derbyshire.
Our members range from complete beginners, including non-swimmers, to very accomplished Team GB age group athletes – everyone is welcome and encouraged. Our members and coaching team are genuinely supportive of each other regardless of ability, they share tips and encourage each other.
OUR STORY
As a club we successfully organise a sprint triathlon each year, which succeeds in the aim of maintaining triathlon as a sporting event in the area and has previously won East Midlands Small Event of the Year from Triathlon England. We encourage and support both novices and seasoned athletes to take part.
We hold social events throughout the year from post session coffees, group meals, a summer BBQ and the big one, our end of season awards evening.
Our growing coaching team, led by Gavin Toulson, work hard to cater for all ability levels in the coached training sessions – more information can be found on the training pages of this website. Along with the coached sessions there are often occasions when club members meet up for un-coached runs or bike rides, these are often posted on the club members WhatsApp community for anyone to join.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
Whether you have been thinking about Triathlon as your next challenge or you have been involved in the sport before and are looking for like-minded people to train with, find out more about what our club has to offer and then come join us by clicking on the membership tab. We have a great coaching team, and a fantastic group of friendly, supportive members. I only recently took up triathlon and have found the coaching, development and camaraderie to be just what I was looking for, so much so I put my name down for Chairman.
Darren Raines - January 2026
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COACHING TEAM
Bassetlaw Triathlon Club is committed to developing our coaching team to provide our members with regular and varied training sessions. Without a coaching team, there is no club. All our coaches are British Triathlon certified and are all competing triathletes with a huge amount of experience. They are all passionate, friendly and very supportive of all members
Julie Lippitt
Julie joined BTC, along with her husband Jason, in 2017 after doing beginners to freestyle. She joined the coaching team in 2021 and has competed at sprint through to middle distance, completing her first middle distance triathlon in 2025 at Outlaw Half Holkham in Norfolk.
Favourite Race
Battle of Bosworth standard distance triathlon.
Interesting Fact
"I keep bees and had some honey from them last year."
Gav Toulson
Gav joined the club in 2013 and has competed at every distance from sprint triathlon to Ironman. He began coaching with the club in 2017 and became Head Coach in 2022.
Favourite Event
Alpe d'Huez Triathlon
Interesting Fact
When I joined the club I started swimming in the slowest lane. Through consistency and patience I've worked my way to the quickest lane. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Stuart Turner
Stuart started triathlon in 2016 at the Sundowner Sprint Tri near York and has competed all the way up to long distance. He joined BTC in 2021 when he moved to the area.
Favourite Race
The Outlaw long distance triathlon at Nottingham.
Interesting Fact
"My first triathlon was also my wife's first triathlon, but we didn't know it at the time. We didn't meet until 4 years later." Stuart's wife happens to be BTC social secretary Kirsty Turner.
Darren Raines
Darren joined the club in 2021 with the aim of completing the Sandman Sprint Triathlon in Wales. He was doing this to raise money for charity in memory of his mum. After this he was hooked. Since then he has competed at every distance from sprint to Ironman.
"Triathlon is only a hobby, but something which I love with a huge emotional attachment. This club and everybody affiliated with it have made incredible things happen for me."
Favourite Event
Ironman Texas. "No competition, one of the best days of my life."
Interesting Fact
"I'm living proof that you don't need a sporting background to compete in triathlon. In 2020 the only thing I raced for was a position at the bar!"
Sharon Burton
Sharon joined the club in 2017 after completing the beginners to freestyle swim course. She was looking for a new challenge after 45 years of running, having achieved all her PB's and bucket list events. Sharon has competed at sprint through to middle distance triathlon's.
Favourite Race
Skegness Sprint Triathlon. Unfortunately it doesn't take place anymore.
Interesting Fact
"I achieved a good time at the age of 42 at the 2003 London Marathon in 3 hours, 29 minutes and 54 seconds."
Graeme Smith
Dale Bloomer
Dale joined BTC in 2016 whilst he was in remission from stage 3 cancer, so he decided to enter a sprint triathlon. He has competed from sprint all the way to Ironman.
Favourite Race
The Vitruvian middle-distance triathlon at Rutland Water.
Interesting Fact
"I have over 30 years experience of climbing and mountaineering in the UK and Europe. I'm a qualified Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Coach. Represented Bassetlaw in a celebration of Mountaineering at Downing Street hosted by the Prime minister"
Harvey Renshaw
Harvey joined the club in 2023 and has competed at sprint and standard distance, but has also competed at marathons. He joined the coaching team in 2025.
Favourite Race
Grantham Sprint Triathlon.
Interesting Fact
Harvey must be the most interesting person in the club, one interesting fact wasn't enough, so he gave us three.
1. "I am the proud owner of 5 pairs of budgie smugglers (and counting)"
2. "I have a rotation of 8 pairs of running shoes for any occasion"
3. "I own 6 different coffee brewing utensils"
Matt Ilett
Matt started triathlon in 2015 at our very own Bassetlaw Sprint Triathlon as part of a relay team, from here he got the tri bug, quickly entered Epworth sprint as an individual a few weeks later and joined the club shortly after that. Since then, Matt has competed at all distances from sprint to Ironman. He began coaching with BTC in 2023. It is a known fact within the club to avoid whatever event Matt is doing because there will be 100% chance of rain.
Favourite Event
Ironman Wales.
Interesting Fact
"I was county champion at 16 in the high jump and also ran the 100 and 200m hurdles for county."
Gaz Hughes
Gaz began triathlon in 2009 while serving in the RAF after buying a friend's second hand road bike. He joined the club on leaving the military in 2015, has competed at every distance from sprint triathlon to Ironman and has represented the GB age group team at World and European Championships.
Favourite Event
Challenge Roth, Germany. The crowds are insane!
Interesting Fact
"I once raced against Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell in the European Duathlon Championships........he destroyed me!"
COMMITTEE
The committee is elected every year at the AGM, typically held in November/December. BTC rely on volunteers to keep the club running. We encourage anyone who is interested to put themselves forward when the AGM is announced. New committee members always bring new energy and ideas.
By being a committee member, you will be able to:
Shape the club’s future by bringing ideas and having a say at committee meetings.
Support members by creating a supportive and welcoming environment.
Give time back to the club and the sport of triathlon.
Ensure the club remains relevant in the local community
Darren Raines
Darren joined the club in 2021 with the aim of completing the Sandman Sprint Triathlon in Wales. He was doing this to raise money for charity in memory of his mum. After this he was hooked. Since then he has competed at every distance from sprint to Ironman.
"Triathlon is only a hobby, but something which I love with a huge emotional attachment. This club and everybody affiliated with it have made incredible things happen for me."
Favourite Event
Ironman Texas. "No competition, one of the best days of my life."
Interesting Fact
"I'm living proof that you don't need a sporting background to compete in triathlon. In 2020 the only thing I raced for was a position at the bar!"
Gav Toulson
Gav joined the club in 2013 and has competed at every distance from sprint triathlon to Ironman. He began coaching with the club in 2017 and became Head Coach in 2022.
Favourite Event
Alpe d'Huez Triathlon
Interesting Fact
When I joined the club I started swimming in the slowest lane. Through consistency and patience I've worked my way to the quickest lane. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Gaz Hughes
Gaz began triathlon in 2009 while serving in the RAF after buying a friend's second hand road bike. He joined the club on leaving the military in 2015, has competed at every distance from sprint triathlon to Ironman and has represented the GB age group team at World and European Championships.
Favourite Event
Challenge Roth, Germany. The crowds are insane!
Interesting Fact
"I once raced against Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell in the European Duathlon Championships........he destroyed me!"
Helen Humphries
Helen joined the club in June 2023, having never done a triathlon before and with very little cycling experience. She has since done mainly sprints, but has also done one standard and one middle distance triathlon. "The support and encouragement from coaches and other members at BTC has been brilliant"
Favourite Event
Outlaw Half Holkham. "There was loads of support and it is a beautiful place to swim, bike and run"
Interesting Fact
"I swam 5 miles across Lake Coniston in 2024, only a year after my first open water swim."
Paddy Ducey
Favourite Event
"My favourite events are simply cycling based. The local Amstel Standing ride from Retford as it is not really competitive and covers a great part of our local area."
Interesting Fact
"Cycle touring is how I challenge myself. I have cycled the length of France, Spain and Portugal on three separate trips."
Kirsty Turner
Sue Cotton
Sue joined the club in 2019 and has since completed a few sprint events, including the club relays.
Favourite Event
Open water swimming at Keswick Mountain Festival.
Interesting Fact
"I have an allotment and enjoy growing veggies and cut flowers."
Kat Wisniewski
Kat began training for triathlon in 2017, joining BTC in 2019 on the beginners to freestyle course. "I started running in 2013, having had my second child in 2012 and needing something for myself. I started completing sub 4 hour marathons and decided I needed a new challenge, so I bought a road bike and began training for triathlon." Kat has competed at all distance from sprint to middle distance, with her main aim for 2023 being Ironman. "I think if you don't try, then you don't know what you can achieve."
Favourite Event
"Outlaw X in 2022, everything went my way and the support was amazing."
Interesting Fact
"I swim breaststroke in triathlons."
Oli Walker
Oliver joined BTC at Christmas in 2022 and has competed at all distances from sprint to Ironman. "I joined because I wanted to venture out of just running and try a new sport. I was fairly new to Worksop and I wanted to be part of a community who had similar goals and ultimately get the right guidance to finally become an Ironman.....which I now am!"
Favourite Event
"Ripon Triathlon. I like the open water swim start there. Or even the club relays as its a great day out."
Interesting Fact
"I can play 7 musical instruments. I like climbing mountains. I once climbed Ben Nevis and The Ring of Steall back to back. I have done Mt Fuji in Japan and my next mountain to conquer will be Mont Blanc."
Matt Ilett
Matt started triathlon in 2015 at our very own Bassetlaw Sprint Triathlon as part of a relay team, from here he got the tri bug, quickly entered Epworth sprint as an individual a few weeks later and joined the club shortly after that. Since then, Matt has competed at all distances from sprint to Ironman. He began coaching with BTC in 2023. It is a known fact within the club to avoid whatever event Matt is doing because there will be 100% chance of rain.
Favourite Event
Ironman Wales.
Interesting Fact
"I was county champion at 16 in the high jump and also ran the 100 and 200m hurdles for county."
READY TO START YOUR TRIATHLON JOURNEY?
Whether you're taking on your first triathlon or chasing a new personal best, we'd love to welcome you to the club.
