LindaDabbs, amember from7Region’s TriathlonGroup recallsher
memoriesof theWorldPoliceandFireGamesandof her realisinga
dreamby representingGBat theWorldChampionships.
A
pproximately a year ago I heardpeople
talkingabout the TriathlonWorld
Championships that were going tobe
held inSeptember 2013, on theOlympic course in
HydePark, London.
Now that gotme thinking... could I possibly qualify
for theWorldChampionships?
I hadonly just completedmy first season in
triathlon, but waswell and truly hooked. I love the
buzz and spirit of triathlon - having come froma
competitive trackand fieldbackground. So I set
myself the goal of qualification!
I competedat theWorldPoliceandFireGames
(WPFG) inBelfast inAugust 2013. How could I
not go to that, beingaBelfast girl?Andanadded
bonuswas that I racedwith (or should I say
against)my sister who is in thePSNI.Wehad
alwaysbeen competitivebut hadnever raced
together ina triathlon.
Inorder to raceat theWorldChampionships I first
had toqualify for theGB team, which Imanaged to
do in theBristol Harboursidequalifying race… first
part of theplan complete!
WPFG raceday dawnedbright and sunny in
Belfast, which isn’t necessarily thenormeven
in summertime. TheWPFG racewas tobe
incorporated intoa local race, the Titanic Triathlon,
a race in its second year, havingbeen set up to
commemorate100
years since the sinking
of the Titanic.
All startedwell. On
the return legon the
bike I heardmy sister
before I sawher, as
she gallantlywishedme
good luckand it was only then I
realised I was in front of her.
It was after thebike stage that I appreciated
just howmany peoplehad comeout to support
the race. Having grownup inBelfast through the
depths of the troubles I never imaginedBelfast
withall its regeneration could lookand sound
this good.
My runwent reallywell.My husbandand two sons
were there cheeringmeon, asweremy sisters’
friends. At theendof the3rd lap I was ready for
the final lapwhenoneofmy injury prone calfs
suddenly ‘went’. I thought at first itmight be
crampand I stopped to stretch, but couldn’t even
walkwithout great painandwithaheavy heart I
had to call it aday. However, as they say it isnot
always about winningandalthough goldand silver
for the sisterswouldhavebeen very special, I was
happy topass theage group goldmedal to
my sister.
I have
sinceheard
that Belfast has
beendeemed
the friendliest
WorldPolice
andFireGames
and I can truly
believe it.What a
superb venuewith
wonderful support.
I would like to thankboth the IPAwhoassisted
meandmy local sports association fromSouth
Devon. Their support is greatly appreciated.
A last note– if you think you cannot do something,
younever know till you try. Have confidenceand
belief in your ownability andkeepdreaming!”
I thenwent on to runat theworld championships.
To findout how I got on read the full articleat:
Article
POLICEWORLD
Vol 59No. 2, 2014
Inspired?
Contact the
TriathlonGroup:
Meet IainSirrell
National Co-ordinator, ILDEP
Iain isaPolice Inspector inNorthYorkshirePolice. Anofficer for 25-years, hehas
servedonResponse Teams; Safer Neighbourhood Teams; a specialist searchand
publicorder team; a tactical firearmsunit; and is currently aForce IncidentManager.
Duringhis career hehasbeen seconded to
National Police Training/Centrex and following that
becamea TrainingManager inNorthYorkshire
Police. Hehasmaintainedakeen interest in
traininganddevelopment andworked closelywith
Mick Luke, VicePresident with responsibility for
Professionalism, todevelop thenewapproach to
theexchangeprogramme.
Iain said, 'the ideabehind ILDEP is tomake
sureofficers get exactlywhat they need from
theexchangeand todo so inaway that canbe
recognisedand supportedby SeniorManagers.
Learninganddevelopment shouldalwaysbe
enjoyableand creating theexchanges in this
way gives anexcellent opportunity to gain some
uniqueexperiences andworldwidepolicing
perspective. This can give someoneunrivalled
evidence for promotionor selectionboards and
it canbe gainedwhilst having funandmaking
lasting friendships at the same time.'
Formore informationon ILDEP, visit:
11
LindaDabbs
