About Triathlon Consultants Ltd
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Triathlon
Consultants was formed in 2005 with the aim to provide information,
coaching services and sporting products to the Triathlon Market.
The company was founded by Mike
Trees who has over 25 years of experience in Triathlon as
both a professional triathlete and National Champion and a coach
to elite triathletes. He also spent many years researching into
training techniques and triathlon clothing materials at a National
University in Japan. This background meant that TCL was able
to fit into a Niche market that was booming but had poor access
to both coaching, facilities and sporting equipment.
 Mike
has also set up Open
Water Swim with Richard Stannard to help get triathletes
used to the open water. Under the guidance of Richard and Mike,
top coaches from Tri-Sport Coaching were introduced at their
facility. Due to TCL's unique position they were also able to
able to offer a free wetsuit rental service at their lake, giving
the Open Water Swim facility an edge on the competition. Visit
the Open Water Swim website at: www.openwaterswim.co.uk
However, soon after formation, it became clear that the biggest
expansion area for TCL was via the importation and distribution
of sports apparel. Since then they have attracted big names
who are keen to work with them.
2XU
is now recognised as the market leader in Triathlon, and yet
three years ago before TCL took on the brand they were unknown
in the UK. Visit the 2XU
website at: www.2XUshop.co.uk
Last year Newton
Running took TCL on as their UK partner and already they
are making waves in the UK market, Newton Running shoes have
already been nominated as the most innovative product of 2008
in the 2009 "220 Triathlon Awards". Visit the Newton
Running website at: www.newtonrunning.co.uk.
Also in 2008 TCL teamed up with a small Japanese bike brand
called "Ceepo".
They have used their expertise to push the Ceepo Brand to the
forefront of the global Triathlon market. In 2008 Ceepo became
the official bikes of Ironman. Visit the Ceepo website at: www.ceepo.com
 And
for the future, the plan is to take Newton
Running shoes out of the triathlon market and into the wider
sport of running and the same for 2XU,
whose compression is already extremely successful in the cycling
world. This has just been solidified by the Tour de France,
Cervelo Cycle Team picking 2XU
as their official Compression Clothing. They will all be wearing
2XU
compression to help them recover faster and perform better
in the 2009 season.
In 2008, TCL was voted the best triathlon distributor in the
Country, this was a huge honour for a company that was just
two years old at the time. TCL also picked up an award for the
2XU
Elite wetsuit which was voted best triathlon wetsuit for
2008. This was put down to the company's emphasis on a hard
working ethos, that is customer orientated. Mike said "In
the Service industry, if the customer is not satisfied with
the service they will not come back, but on the flip side, triathletes
are brand loyal and if they get a good quality product and excellent
service they stay loyal. In many other sectors it seems that
price in the only consideration"
Meet the team...
From participation for fun and health to the pursuit of world
champion titles, the Triathlon Consultants team love their sports
and putting the TCL brand products through their paces themselves
in training and races. Meet some of the team...
Mike Trees
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Triathlon
Consultants Limited was founded by Mike who has over 25
years of experience in Triathlon as both a professional
triathlete and National Champion and a coach to elite
triathletes. He is a former World 10km Masters Champion,
former British Record Holder for Ironman, 10 Times National
Japanese Triathlon Champion and an elite Triathlon Coach.
Mike is now making a 'come back' juggling business with
high performance sport. His ultimate aim is to become
the first British man over the age of 45 to do a sub 30min
10k. We are all eagerly watching his progress!
Read Mike's blog at www.miketrees.com |
Mike Martin
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In 2008
Mike rowed his way into the record books by making the
fastest recorded crossing to Antigua from La Gomera and
the fifth fastest crossing of the Atlantic from East to
West (37 days, 5hrs, 53 minutes). It was also the first,
and will no doubt be the only, crossing by a five man
crew. Mike is now rebuilding his body and putting the
ground work in for another triathlon season.
An aim of a sub 9.5hr ironman has been set and considering
his performance pre-Atlantic, it is just a matter of time.
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Steve Hones
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Steve
joined the TCL sales team in May 2009 after a 4 year stint
working in the City and a previous background in engineering
& sales. In 2006 he completed his first triathlon and
2 years later the Frankfurt Ironman. Aside from being
hooked on triathlon, Steve is a keen snowboarder and skydiver.
Targets for next year include; exponential sales growth
at TCL, a sub 2:55 London Marathon and some ultra running
races if he can find the time. |
Tierney Maude
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Tierney
joined the TCL team in July 2009 following her graduation
from Loughborough University. She has always been a very
keen swimmer, taking quite nicely to the Open Water Swim
sessions at Datchet Lake. Although slightly lacking in
the bike and run department, her aim is to put the work
in over Winter to get some power in those legs and make
her Triathlon debut in Spring 2010.
Following the expansion of TCL's team, Tierney joined
our sales department and will be travelling up and down
the country working alongside Steve. |
Rieko Trees
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Rieko
had a good grounding in business, working in the toughest
market in the world in Tokyo. She was a saleswoman for
Japan TV before helping to form Triathlon Consultants
in 2005. Her official title is Company Secretary, although
many think of her as the unofficial boss. On a daily basis
she is looking at the finances and cash flow and working
on strategic planning.
Rieko was a very good swimmer as a child and at university
started doing triathlon. Her tenacious character has helped
her train and complete 3 Ironman triathlons, although
her real passion is short distance pool swimming. |
Ryan Hiscoe
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Ryan
is the newest member of the sales team after working in
recruitment and financial industry for the last 6 years
. He has a strong history in sports including competing
as a junior elite triathlete, he relocated to the UK from
South Africa in 2001. He is a very keen cricketer and
might just make a triathlon comeback in 2010 after a break
of almost 10 years from the sport!
His main focus will be to expand the 2XU brand into a
range of other sports and increase sales revenue for 2010!
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Lander Eguia
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Lander
came to the UK in August 2007 to learn English and run
and ended up running Triathlon Consultants Logistics department!
Nothing is allowed to move out of our warehouse without
his authority. Lander also manages TCL's customer services.
Those who talk to him regularly will appreciate just how
good he has become at English in such a short time!
Lander runs with the team regularly before work, although
Mike is now finding the tables turned on him with Lander
beating him in cross country races! Lander runs for Belgrave
Harriers and his challenge for the summer is to run a
sub 9 min 3,000m on the track. |
Claire Donald
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Claire
has come into Triathlon Consultants on the purchasing
and importation side. She is a keen runner and has been
running for the last 15 years. She managed a sub-3 effort
in Berlin 2006 and ranked 1st in the UK for her age group
with a 60 min 10mile in 2009.
The target for 2010 is to have a go at triathlon and is
looking to start in summer 2010 - she is looking for a
triathlon with the shortest swim/bike sections ever!
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Craig Wood
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Craig
joined TCL in January 2010 jumping ship from the retail
world of triathlon to the supplier side. He is passionate
about all things fitness having previously worked as a
personal trainer and fitness consultant before his stint
in sports retail. Being a keen triathlete Craig is looking
forward to flying the TCL flag at some local tri events.
Aim for the year is to swim like a fish in open water,
"Chris Hoy" the bike and finish the run! |
Rie Gleeson
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Rie plays
a vital role in the TCL team. Working part- time in the
office she undertakes a very large proportion of those
time consuming jobs and always ensures that the last minute
dash to the post office is met. Joining the team early
this year, Rie is never without a smile on her face and
a spring in her step, bringing with her a little bit of
sunshine every day
With a hidden competitive streak, Rie enjoys playing tennis
with her friends on a regular occasion. |
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