Here is some information on our Team Wiggle Athletes. We’ve recently expanded the team for the 2009 season to include some grassroots athletes to add to our current line up of pros.

Ben, Carolyn, Lee, Africa and Brinsley will join our Pro Triathletes Emma-Kate Lidbury and Stuart Hayes and Mountain Biker Matt Page on Team Wiggle.

Their profile links will take you to their own profile pages where you can find out what kit their using and how they are progressing on with their 2009 race season.

Triathlete: Emma-Kate Lidbury

Emma-Kate is a triathlete and journalist who combines her passion for multisport training and racing with a flair for writing, researching and reporting. After enjoying great success as an amateur triathlete – she is 2008 European Age Group Champion and World Age Group Silver Medallist – she is now a full-time athlete, focusing on Ironman 70.3 and Olympic distance triathlon.

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Triathlete: Stuart Hayes

Since the beginning of the 2007 Triathlon season Focus Bikes UK have been sponsoring GB Elite Triathlete Stuart Hayes. The thinking behind selecting Stuart was that he is an athlete that has been involved in the sport for many years. He has a real insight in to what he needs from his bike, he’s a superb cyclist, in fact, one of the best on the world circuit and he swims very strongly too, meaning he’s out of the water early and leading from the front on the bike. Stuart has a positive, disciplined attitude towards training and competing and in 2004 finished the year as International Triathlon Union (ITU) world ranked number 3, with key performances in Madrid, Salford and Gamagori where he finished 3rd, 2nd an 3rd respectively. He won the London Triathlon in 2005 and achieved three podium finishes in 2006.
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Mountain Biker: Matthew Page

For as long as Matt can remember, Matt has always been a sporting person. Matt has always loved riding bikes, Since buying his first MTB at 16 he’s been riding the rough stuff ever since. It wasn’t until 2005 though, that Matt started racing, and back then he mainly concentrated on XC, short course races, and the shorter endurance races.

Matt took the opportunity to move from Llandovery to Cardiff and begin working as a cycle courier. Riding an average of 100 miles a day for four days a week does wonders for the endurance, and as a direct consequence he started doing well at the longer events. 2006 Matt entered his first 24 hour solo and loved it; so much so that he entered another just two months later, and this saw him achieving a podium win! His consistency throughout 2007 led to it being a really great year, topped off with winning Dusk till Dawn solo 12 hour.
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Road Rider: Ben Simmons

It doesn’t matter whether it’s cyclo-cross, road racing or mountain biking, Ben, 22, has already achieved a great deal on two wheels and has shown huge potential. The Welshman has represented his country as a junior and rode alongside Geraint Thomas as a teenager in events such as the Junior Tour of Wales and the Junior Tour of Ireland. His greatest achievement so far was his victory at the 2007 five-day Ras de Cymru Stage Race, but as a 1st Cat road rider he’ll be competing in Premier Calendar races in the UK throughout 2009 and will be looking to impress on his Focus Cayo Pro Ben is a member of the elite sport squad at the University of Wales Newport where he is currently studying sports coaching and development. He coaches with Welsh Cycling and Newport Council and is definitely one to watch.
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Triathlete: Carolyn Hewett

Carolyn is certainly not your typical triathlete. She took up triathlon in 2007 as a complete novice and entered Ironman UK as her first race. Her goals were to win her age group and qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, both of which she achieved. Less than two years later, she is now a four-time Ironman finisher but also enjoys competing in cyclo sportives, marathons and Olympic and middle distance triathlon. She refuses to conform to the stereotypical triathlete image (“flat chest and flat shoes” – her words, not ours!) and her drive, determination, passion and belief speaks for itself. In 2005 she was told by doctors she would never lead a ‘normal’ life again after contracting viral meningitis, but she proved them all wrong by realising her dream of racing Ironman Hawaii. We look forward to following Carolyn’s progress this season…
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Mountain biker: Lee Williams

Lee is an up and coming rider whose focus for the season ahead will be MTB cross country. With some promising results already to his name – he has ridden in a number of senior World Cup races and is Welsh champion – his future looks bright and we’re excited to have him on board. He’s not afraid to mix it up and when he’s not concentrating on XC, he’s also into cyclocross, road riding and MTB marathons. In fact, he’s a former Brecon Beast champion and U23 national marathon champion. He’s looking forward to racing as often as possible this season on his Focus Raven Pro and hopes to be in action in Welsh regional races, the Gorrick Series, the Irish National Series, British NPS and selected World Cup races.
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Rising star: Africa Mason

Having already won national and European medals in a range of sports, 14-year-old Africa really shone through as a young athlete with huge potential. Last year she won her age group at the British Biathlon Championships and was silver medallist in her age group at the British Aquathlon Championships and also at the European Biathle Championships (biathle is a sub-sport of modern pentathlon involving swimming and running). Until recently she focused solely on competitive swimming but is now balancing training for modern pentathlon, biathlon, triathlon and biathle and says she’s “headed for the top”. She is already a member of the South West Triathlon Academy and is mentored by elite athlete Harry Wiltshire. She hopes to work more on her cycling over the coming year so she can really make an impact on the junior triathlon scene, so no doubt she’ll go from strength to strength on her Focus Cayo 105
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Runner: Brinsley Gunning

In March this year Brinsley ran 100K on a treadmill for Sport Relief in the reception area of his employees global HQ in London. With over 7,000 employees passing through he raised £3000 on the day! Brinsley’s reasons for running have developed and evolved since he first started 15 years ago and as such, he is able to understand many of the motivators and help others achieve their goals. He has built an encyclopedic knowledge of training, injury, nutrition, best clothing / footwear, events and is often consulted by friends on colleagues on how they can get involved.

As well as being an ultra-marathon runner, Brinsley is a father of 2 children and has built a successful career with Ernst & Young, one of the world’s top 4 accountancy firms. Brinsley feels managing the work life balance can sometimes be a challenge but with the right attitude and commitment, you can achieve your goals. Running has played a primary role in helping him to achieve his personal and professional ambitions. Not only is Brinsley a regular on the ultra marathon circuit, road races 10k to marathon, cross country and a member of Cambridge Harriers Athletics Club. We feel he will act as a great ambassador for Wiggle and were sure he will be successful.
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Road Rider: Richard Pearman

Richard has been involved in the sport of cycling since his early school days. He joined a local cycling club and used to join the other members on their Sunday club runs and competed in their time trials. Two years later he moved on to road racing and has been hooked ever since. After 25 years in cycling, Richard has learnt a tremendous amount and is always keen to share his knowledge with new riders who are just starting out. As well as training, racing, and holding down full time employment, he also represents and takes Surrey Cycle Racing League over to race in Ireland. His last trip to Ireland was in May of last year when the Surrey League had a team in the 2008 UCI 2.2 International FBD Insurance RaS 9 Day Stage Race. What Richard enjoys most now is racing/riding with other riders, and friends, who have been cycling for as long as he has.
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