Team

Team Freespeed Virgin Active is proud to have the following fourteen triathletes on the team:

Stuart Anderson

Stuart Anderson Team Freespeed

Stuart's profile
Business Development, Daily Telegraph
Age 40

  • Top British amateur at Ironman World Championships, 2008 and 2010
  • Amateur champion UK 70.3, 2011
  • Raced in Kona 4 times
  • Norseman ‘black’ finisher 2013

2014: racing Ironman UK

Tim Bishop

Tim Bishop Team Freespeed

Tim's profile
Commercial lawyer
Age 47

  • Top British amateur at IM Western Australia, IM Lanzarote and World Long Distance Champs, 2010
  • 8.56 Challenge Copenhagen, 2011
  • Raced in Kona 5 times
  • Age group champion IM Wales, 2013

 2014: Kona qualified at Ironman Wales

Jenny Gowans

Jenny Gowans Team Freespeed

Jenny's profile
Publisher
Age 38

  • Winner Norseman, 2008
  • Amateur champion UK 70.3, 2011
  • Raced in Kona 3 times

 2014: Racing Blenheim and London

Matt Molloy

Matt Molloy Team Freespeed

Matt's profile
Company Director
Age 44 

  • European 40-44 age group champion, 2012
  • European 40-44 long distance champion, 2012
  • Winner 40-44 Abu Dhabi Long Course triathlon, 2013
  • World 40-44 age group aquathlon champion, 2013
  • Amateur course record holder at Windsor Triathlon
  • Raced in Kona 3 times

 2014: Racing 70.3 Worlds, Canada

Charlie Pennington

Charlie Pennington Team Freespeed

Charlie's profile
Major, Royal Marines
Age 35 

  • 3rd amateur overall 70.3 World Championships, Las Vegas, 2012
  • Royal Navy Sportsperson of the year, 2012
  • British Inter Services Champion, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Royal Marines and Royal Navy XC Champion, 2012, 2013
  • 35-39 Age Group Champion UK70.3, 2013

 2014: Racing Ironman Lanzarote

Chris Nicholls

Chris Nicholls Team Freespeed

Chris's profile
Oil trader
Age 28 

  • 4th overall Olympic Distance National Championships, 2013
  • 12th in age group OD World Championships, London 2013
  • Winner Big East Olympic Distance triathlon, 2014

 2014: Racing 70.3UK

Magnus Backstedt

Magnus Backstedt Team Freespeed

Magnus's profile
Television Commentator
Age 39 

  • Winner Paris Roubaix, 2004
  • Winner Stage 19 Tour de France 1998
  • Multiple Swedish National titles
  • Raced 3 x full Ironmans

 2014: Kona qualified at IM Wales

Sam Baxter

Sam Baxter Team Freespeed

Sam's profile
Sales Executive

Age 31

  • Amateur champion IMUK 2012, 5th overall
  • Amateur champion UK 70.3, 2012, 2013
  • 9hr 12mins debut in Kona, 2011
  • 220 Magazine Age grouper of the year 2012
  • Amateur champion IM South Africa 2014
  • Raced in Kona 3 times

 2014: Kona qualified at IM South Africa

Declan Doyle

Declan Doyle Team Freespeed

Declan's profile
Teacher
Age 41

  • Top Irish amateur at Kona, 2010
  • 9.02 Challenge Roth, 2011
  • Raced in Kona 5 times

 2014: Racing Ironman Frankfurt

Richard Hobson

Richard Hobson Team Freespeed

Richard's profile
Gite owner, triathlon coach
Age 49

  • 5 x National Middle Distance champion
  • Coached two athletes to the Athens Olympics
  • 45-49 Age Group Champion UK70.3, 2012, 2013
  • London Triathlon Olympic Plus champion, 2013
  • Raced in Kona 3 times

 2014: Racing Ironman Barcelona

Alison Rowatt

Alison Rowatt Team Freespeed

Alison's profile
Lawyer
Age 33

  • Amateur 70.3 World Champion, 2010
  • Amateur 70.3 European Champion, 2013
  • 2nd 30-34 age group, 9hrs 44mins, Kona 2013
  • 30-34 age group champion Mallorca 70.3, 2014
  • Raced in Kona 1 time

 2014: Racing Ironman France

Jamie Hinton

Jamie Hinton Team Freespeed

Jamie's profile
Human Resources, Google
Age 30

  • Age group Bronze Medal, OD National Championships 2013
  • Age group Bronze Medal, OD Worlds Championships 2013
  • Thames Turbo Sprint Series Overall Winner, 2013
  • South East Regional OD Champion, 2013
  • Course record holder, Eton Dorney sprint, set in 2013
  • World Championship qualification, Mallorca 70.3, 2014

 2014: Racing 70.3 Worlds, Canada

Dionne Allen

Dionne Allen Team Freespeed

Dionne's profile
Sales, Evans Cycles
Age 24 

  • 10k run PB 34.39
  • 12th Junior Mountain Running World Championships
  • Winner Clitheroe Triathlon, 2014

 2014: Racing Blenheim and London

Dion Harrison

Dion Harrison Team Freespeed

Dion's profile
Chartered Surveyor
Age 33 

  • World Amateur Long Distance Champion, 2008
  • Ironman pb 8hrs 49mins
  • Raced in Kona 1 time

 2014: Racing Lake Zurich 26.4km swim, Switzerland