BUSTINSKIN Events race director Mark Steen has set up a new triathlon club in the area.

Steen has been helping run events for the past 15 years and got involved in organising triathlons several years ago.

This year he has gone a step further and helped set up a club for athletes who have not had any formal organisation to join locally before.

He said: “I decided, after taking part in a few events, that the grassroots level of sport was being overlooked for the big money making events and I didn’t like the fact that was happening. So, I thought I would try to run an event that was big enough to be exciting and small enough to be friendly.

“I wanted to keep the cost down, as some large races now cost over £80 to enter, and instead of giving away cheap T-shirts I decided to provide where possible a free feed at the end where everyone can have a beer and a chat.

“Many people in Weymouth and Portland take part in triathlons but up until now there has not been a local club to join other than those on the outskirts of Dorset or Yeovil.

“By forming the BustinSkin Triathlon Club there is now the opportunity for people to get together for training and travelling to and from events.”

BustinSkin organise around 15 different events a year from triathlons to coastal marathons and training in the summer will include an Aquathlon series in Weymouth, weekly bike meetings and long sea swims.

Steen runs for Egdon Heath Harriers and by joining the triathlon club people will automatically become a member of the local running club as well.

Steen added: “Egdon train each Tuesday through the winter from the Weymouth Squash Club at 7pm and go to different venues throughout the summer months, they are a very encouraging club to join and have some excellent club runners.”

Also locally for the budding triathlete, CC Weymouth cycle club and Weyport masters swimming club offer every opportunity for people to improve over all three disciplines. Details can be found at www.bustinskin.com Two of BustinSkin’s events this year come from the home of the national sailing team at Portland.

Steen said: “We were the first multi-sports event to take part from the National Sailing Academy last year with the inaugural running of the Race to the Bill triathlon, this was a suck it and see event to find out how the academy would work for a triathlon.

“As it happens the race was a great success, bringing competitors from all over the world. A lot of GB age groupers took part and there was also a return to Weymouth for one of the UK’s top talents in the longer distance event Abigail Bailey, who grew up in the town and now races all over the world as an elite athlete.

“To attract the likes of Abigail was a great feeling of achievement but more so equally was the involvement of the athletes taking part for the first time.

“I love to see the novices competing in our races because I know they will become addicted to the sport and seeing them in their first event and the look of disbelief they have when they cross the line is something you never tire of witnessing.”

The Weymouth Classic triathlon has had to move venue for 2009 with the uncertainty of the Pavilion complex playing a big part.

Steen said: “Last year we held our Classic race on the Pavilion car park but because we can’t be certain of what will be there in September we have moved our race HQ to Bowleaze Cove.

“For those who took part in last year’s Aquathlons at Bowleaze, they will know that this venue fits in perfectly with our style of race.”

For more details of how to join the club or take part in one of the events contact mark@bustinskin.com or visit bustinskin.com