2025 was another big year for our club, with our members getting involved in a huge range of different activities and races.
We had some members just getting started in their multi-sport journey, some pushing their personal boundaries, some enduring levels of endurance that seem unimaginable to many, countless PBs, fantastic personal achievements both big and small, GB Age Group qualification and racing and a healthy amount of fun and laughter along the way, all done with an orange and black hue.
There is so much to mention that it’s inevitable that I’ve missed something or someone, so I’ll apologise in advance. Every one of our members who have been out there competing are amazing and all deserve recognition for their efforts and contribution to the success of our club, and for that I thank you all.
By creating this review we are attempting to acknowledge and celebrate all that was achieved in 2025 and to offer thanks to our team of coaches who voluntarily give up huge amounts of personal time and energy to keep the club running. We simply wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them, so we’re all very grateful and appreciative.
Here follows some lists of events our members have been involved in along with annotations where appropriate. Cast you eyes down these lists as there have been some outstanding achievememts.
Where to start?
Keeping to the traditional order of things, swims first.
SWIMMING
There have been lots of tremendous swim activities including some very long distance swims and several very cold swims.
The name which is synonymous with swimming in local circles in Helen Hislop. Listing just some of her 2025 achievements below makes for impressive reading.
GB Ice Swimming World Championships Molveno, Italy. Helen Hislop became the 1km AG World Champion.
Ice Mile – Helen Hislop (fully ratified)helwell
Great North Swim 5km – Tanya Leary
Big Bala Swim 9km – Helen Hislop & Julia Hedo
Cholmondeley Castle 5km – Jo Morgan
12 Hrs swimming 1.5 miles every hour – Helen Hislop
Dal Riata Channel Swim. Scotland to Ireland in 7hrs 54mins & 10 secs New Guinness World Record Helen Hislop
Dee Mile – Jenn Robson 2nd AG, Jo Morgan 1st AG, Paul Thelwell 2nd AG
Big Welsh Swim – Victoria Moody-Smith (9km), Gavin Hunter 6km)
GB Three Lakes Challenge. The 3 longest lakes in the 3 nations of mainland Britain: Loch Awe in Scotland, Windermere in England and Llyn Tegid (Bala) in Wales: 59.9km in 16:30.31 swim time. Awaiting ratification of another Guinness World Record
Windermere End to End 10.5 miles – Martin Shaw
Beat the Tide 4km Aberdyfi – Helen Hislop 1st overall
Across Mersey Swim – Big group (Iain Arnison, Michelle Moss, Julie Cullen, Jenn Robson, Sam Yates, Matt Rutherford, Dan Thompson, Jon Fairhurst, Helen Hislop, Phil Smith and also with Dani Scott in support on the Fire Service rescue boat.
Dock to Dock in Liverpool – Jenn Robson
Ivan Percival Swim – 3 miles – Dan Thompson & Julia Hedo in cold water conditions
Hurley Burley Swim 10km tide assisted
Cool Mile Tal Y Llyn – Helen Hislop
Cool Mile Princes Dock – Victoria Moody-Smith & Julia Hedo in cold water conditions
RUNNING
A wide range of running activities from 5km, 10km, HM, Marathon and Ultra distances.
Many different 5 & 10kms
At Tatton Park, Jenn Robson ran her FIRST EVER run event
In Wavertree, Gavin Hunter set a new PB of 38.03
Many different Half Marathons
In Manchester Teresa Rae set a new PB, beating her previous best by 15mins!
Si Cole completed the Castle Series of HMs – Snowdon, Caernarfan, Bangor & Conwy HMs
Mike Webster completed the Chester Triple – 10km, Half Marathon, Marathon (Metric)
Up in the Lake District we had Dan Thompson, Ollie Thompson and Jon Fairhurst running the That’s Lyth 24 mile trail run.
Many full Marathons including Wirral, London, Manchester, Leeds, Boston, Prague, Berlin.
In London, Martin Pritchard-Howarth set a new Guinness World Record for his run dressed as a Sun Flower.
Ultra Marathons – we had Sam Yates running the Chester 50 and Ben Holt running the Charm Bracelet Wirral Ultra.
There was also an event called ‘The Drop’ which Libby Shaw did with her friend. A novel, but very fun sounding concept. Choose your distance, surrender all tech, blindfold drop off a set distance from the finish then find your way back.
Chester 10km / Tunnel 10k / Port Sunlight 5 & 10k / Wirral 10k / Tatton Park 10k / Wavertree 10km
Village Bakery Half / Manchester Half / Delamere Trail Half & 10km / Helsby Half / Village Bakery Half / Conwy Half / Snowdonia Half / Chester Half / Prague Half
That’s Lyth 24mile trail
London Marathon / Manchester Marathon / Boston Marathon / Leeds Marathon / Berlin Marathon / PLF (Wirral) Marathon, Half & 10k
CYCLING
A big year for cycling with some major events ticked off.
Congratulations to Dan Thompson for completing one of the hardest trio of cycling events including the The Dragon Devil Ride, Fred Whitton and topped off with the hardest, The Yorkshire Beast.
He also rode the Warrington Wolves Mystery Tour, Cardiff to Newcastle 400miles over 4 days and received recognition as the Riders Rider for his support of others throughout.
Well done to Michelle Moss, Julie Cullen, Christine Evans and Michael Moss for stepping up and riding the Dragon Ride Medio Fondo, and to Martin Pritchard-Howarth, Iain Arnison and Jon Fairhurst (retired due to mechanical at 135 miles) for riding the Devil route. All done in the worst possible riding conditions.
La Roue Sportive / Lakeland Loop Sportive / Warrington Wolves Mystery Tour Cardiff to Newcastle 400miles over 4 days / Strade Sportive / Fred Whitton / Dragon Ride / Yorkshire Beast / Liverpool – Chester – Liverpool / Veterans 100 / Tugby – Lincoln 200k / Coast to Coast
TRIATHLONS & DUATHLONS
The main body of our club activity covering all distances from Super Sprint up to full Ironman including Duathlons and the increasingly popular Aquabike.
West Lancs – Mike Moss return to racing after injury
Nantwich Tri – Karen Scott completing her FIRST ever Triathlon
Dev Divas – Karen Scott 3rd in AG
Southport Tri – Kev Quinn FIRST official Triathlon
Darley Moor Duathlon – Si Cole qualified for GB AG ‘26
Lakesman Middle – British Champs – Dan Scott 3rd in AG so podium at the British Champs
Snowman Duathlon – Si Cole 1st in AG and 4th overall
Cowman Middle – Kev Quinns FIRST Middle Distance Tri
IM West Lancs Autumn – A family affair for Team SHAW Libby, Natalie and Jonathan
Weymouth 70.3 – Terrie Johnson FIRST Middle Distance Tri & now stepping up to full IM in ‘26
Sandman Legend – Si Cole won the Adventure Series (Slateman, Snowman, Sandman)
GB Age Group
GB Age Group European Duathlon Champs, Poland – Si Cole
GB AG World Duathlon Champs, Spain – Neil Oakes
GB AG Tri European Champs, Turkey – Chris Ball did Sprint & Standard, Martin Pritchard-Howarth Standard
Deva Tri – Don Holmes qualified for GB AG Aquabike Worlds in ‘26
Outlaw 70.3 – Victoria Moody-Smith secured GB AG qualification for ‘26
Southport Tri – Paul Thelwell secured GB AG qualification ‘26
IRONMAN & LONG DISTANCE
Leeds Ironman – Matt Rutherford, Dan Thompson, Chris Ball, Ben Holt, Ian Davies, Martin Pritchard-Howarth, Simon Hewitt
Outlaw Long Distance Aquabike. Christine, Julie & Michelle all stepping up to do their first Long Distance event – Christine 1st in AG. Also Julie finished well. Didn’t go to plan for Michelle but she has vowed to come back another time.
Long Course Weekend, Tenby with a big group taking part – Melissa stepping up. Libby outstanding sprint finish in the marathon caught on the big screens at the finish line. Sam Yates super strong all weekend.
Ironman Sweden, Kalmar – Paul Robertson. Then travelled to Estonia with Cathy to support.
Ironman Estonia – FIRST IM for Victoric Moody-Smith, Melissa Fairhurst, Kev Quinne, Phil Smith, Emily. Bike dramas for Paul Thelwell & Mike Moss who did the 70.3 race, with Paul finishing 3rd in his AG
BIRD to BIRD – 86 run, 23 run, 180 bike – Martin Pritchard-Howarth
IM Barcelona – Nick Leigh FIRST IM & Martin Shaw + travelling supportters
IM World Champs – Chris Ball & Martin Pritchard-Howarth (had Covid)
ALL WORLD ATHLETE RANKINGS
Chris Ball
After his performances at Leeds, Tallinn and the World Champs he achieved AWA GOLD status, ranking 3rd in the UK, 48th Globally
Martin Pritchard-Howarth
His performances at Leeds, Tallinn and the World Championships secured AWA Silver status, ranking 20th in the UK and 261 Globally.
Simon Hewitt raced in Leeds and Tallinn and secured AWA Bronze status, rankinh 73rd in the UK and 1021 Globally.
Lots of other fantastic races
Firefighters 2UP Duathlon / West Lancs / Horwich Tri / Volcano Tri, Lanzarote / Nantwich Tri / Outlaw 70.3 / Southport Tri / Darley Moor Duathlon / Deva Tri / Slateman Tri & Duathlon / GB AG World Duathlon Champs, Spain / Lakesman Middle (British Champs) / Darwen Standard / Leeds Ironman / Outlaw Long Distance Aquabike / Snowman Duathlon / Cowman Middle / Long Course Weekend, Tenby / Dev Divas / Cotswold Classic /Ironman Sweden, Kalmar / Ironman Estonia / GB AG Tri European Champs, Turkey / West Lancs Autumn / BIRD to BIRD / IM World Champs / IM Weymouth 70.3 / Sandman Legend / Belvoir Castle 70.3 / IM Barcelona
OTHER EVENTS
Rustman / Rat Race Croatia / SwimRun Eliminator / Hyrox Manchester & Glasgow / La Santa Training Camp
