Steven Sims has come third overall in the Castle Triathlon Series twice.
STEVEN SIMS has excelled at sport since he was a primary school. When his sister started competing in aquathlons he decided to give triathlons a go and the rest, as they say, is history! With the added inspiration of watching Tim Bon win the Blenheim Palace Triathlon Steven has dedicated much of his adult life to the sport. He has become an ambassador for the Castle Triathlon Series, has competed in Poland as well as numerous races in the UK and trained with the Leeds Triathlon Centre during his time at university.
You can keep up with Steven’s races and training at www.stevensims.co.uk. Find out more about Hever Castle Triathlon here: www.castletriathlonseries.co.uk/the-series/hever-castle/.
When did you start competing in triathlon and who encouraged you to give the sport a go?
I have always been interested in sport since a young age; my main interests were swimming and running when I was at primary school. My sister was competing in a few local aquathlons, and my parents began to enter me too, and as most children would be, I was pretty reluctant to take part at first. However, this was the start of triathlon for me. I was never that keen on the cycling part as there wasn’t a local group with people my age close to me, so it was a bit lonely. I grew up watching triathlon when Tim Don was the UK’s best triathlete and watching him win Blenheim Palace Triathlon was a key moment, which inspired me to pursue triathlon professionally.
What had been some of your previous sporting accomplishments?
I have been competing at the Castle Triathlon Series races for a few years, coming third overall in the series twice. This year I had the success of coming third at Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon, third at Cholmondeley Castle Triathlon and recently fifth at Castle Howard Triathlon. This year I also competed as a pro in Poland’s Warsaw 5150 and have a few more races to come. Over the past few years I have raced in the British National Super Series on multiple occasions including Blenheim, London, Liverpool and at the elite duathlon champs.
I’ve had a great time racing for Leeds Beckett University in triathlon related events for the past four years. This includes BUCS duathlon where I have come 12th three years in a row, BUCS Biathlon where I have placed fifth, BUCS Sprint, which has one of the strongest fields in the country, and BUCS Standard where I have placed a respectable 9th. As a University we have won multiple team medals which has made my incredibly rewarding.
As well as furthering his own triathlon career Steven would also like to work with others to improve theirs.
Tell us how you have combined your passion for triathlon with university?
When choosing universities triathlon was top on my list of priorities. As a result, I decided on moving from Cornwall to Leeds Beckett University where I would begin to train with the Leeds Triathlon Centre. This was the perfect opportunity to train with some amazing champions who I had been looking up to for years and I would soon call friends. Slightly star struck, I didn’t always play it cool, embarrassing myself multiple times. To help focus on my training and my Sports Business degree I completed my final year of study over two years. This allowed me more time to focus on each whilst also working part time and attempting too balance a social life. I have just graduated with a 2:1 which I am extremely happy with, adding to my amazing Leeds experience so far.
What is it about the Castle Triathlon Series that makes you want to be involved?
The Castle Triathlon Series hold warm and welcoming events, which are hosted at outstanding venues and are very well organised. I’ve really got to know the team there and have recently stayed with the team down at Hever Castle. I was helping coach children at their School Roadshow, which was a great opportunity. Seeing the time and effort which goes into each of the events was eye opening and it was really good fun to give them a helping hand. I was even recruited to play five-a-side football with some of the team. I’m going to be working more closely with Castle Triathlon Series as an ambassador and I am honoured due to their great ethos and support to athletes.
What are your triathlon ambitions for the rest of the year and beyond?
In the coming months I will be testing myself with some longer distance races just to see how my legs hold up. I will also be ending my season with the final Castle Series race at Hever castle at the end of September. My plans for the rest of the year and future are to stay in Leeds to train with my current group until I feel the need to move on, if ever. I will also be focusing on my coaching as I am currently swim teaching locally in Leeds and will be completing my level two triathlon coaching course in October. I’d really like to begin to coach groups and individual athletes.
