Whakatane District Council Going Mad for Triathlon

When Sovereign and Triathlon New Zealand announced details of the CEO Challenge as part of the upcoming Sovereign Tri Series this summer, little did they know the impact this would have on the Whakatane District Council – nor the impact that the council is about to have on the opening event of the summer at Sovereign Tinman on December 7.

The CEO Challenge, initiated by Sovereign CEO Symon Brewis-Weston, is designed to get workplaces active and improve their health and wellbeing. CEOs must nominate themselves (or be nominated) as a starter in one of the events in the Sovereign Tri Series.

The incentive for those businesses and CEO’s is the lure of a $25,000 donation to a charity of their choosing, which Sovereign has pledged to the company with the highest (proportional) representation across the series.

Incredibly, for a relatively small team, the Whakatane District Council has already signed up over 80 staff to participate in the Sovereign Tinman at Mount Maunganui on December 7, and hope to grow that number to beyond 100.

Council Chief Executive Marty Grenfell says that while he will lead the team at Tinman, it is others that have been busy motivating staff to be involved.

“Cashy (Catherine) Ball and Violet Hape have been rallying the troops and signing them up. I haven’t personally had to eyeball too many individuals yet, but we will be asking everyone who is fit and able to be a part of the Whakatane District Council team at Tinman,” he says.

“People spend a lot of time here at work, arguably longer here than they do with their own families, so it’s important to inject a bit of fun into the workplace, as well as providing opportunities for improving health, wellbeing and fitness. If that means a bit of flexi-time at some stage in the day to go for a swim, ride or run then that’s no problem, providing the job still gets done.

“We’re going to provide weekly updates for staff, have some fun with the team and work with them to see how their training is going, as well as providing some shared training opportunities here and in conjunction with the Eastern Bay of Plenty Triathlon club.”

The ‘Catherine’ Marty refers to is Cashy Ball, Senior Strategic Policy Analyst with the Council. Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious, which has no doubt helped in motivating so many of the team to sign up so far.

“We have created teams within our teams to help them all figure out what to do and how to take part in a triathlon. Amongst our staff, we have a few that are either members of the local Eastern Bay of Plenty Triathlon Club or have done triathlons at a reasonable level, but for many, it is the first time they have done anything like this. Most are choosing the shortest event and many of them are lining up in teams at the Sovereign Tinman, but they are all part of it and all contributing to what is already a big success for us from a workplace health and wellbeing perspective.”

Cashy is quick to stress that this is very much about entry level participation for 90% of the Council staff taking part.

“It is also a great way for Council staff to send positive messages to our community around health and wellbeing. This is not about becoming an elite athlete with all the gear, we are a mix of everyday Kiwis who will be out there walking, jogging, riding or swimming at our own speeds. We may not have the latest lycra and fancy bikes, but we will be having fun, taking part in the sport of triathlon.”

Marty himself has a history in the sport and has made a commitment to racing in the longest event on offer at Sovereign Tinman next month.

“The sport has been part of our family for a long time. I competed socially years back in the odd triathlon and from there, it just became part of our family. We attended the National Schools Champs for many years but now the kids have gone off to varsity the opportunity to train with them doesn’t exist so for me it is a case of getting back on the horse. It has been 2 or 3 years now since I did any significant training”.

The impact on the Whakatane District Council is set to go beyond Sovereign Tinman, with many of the staff also talking about entering Sovereign Kinloch on February 1st, while Marty Grenfell is a definite starter alongside the Auckland-based CEO Challenge entries at Takapuna on February 13th, including Symon Brewis-Weston, Sovereign; Stephen England-Hall, Loyalty New Zealand; Peter Miskimmin, Sport NZ; Craig Waugh, Tri NZ; and Paul Maher, Mediaworks.

“That was always part of the master plan, just quietly. Takapuna is an old stomping ground of mine and I have fond memories of the place. So yes, I will be lining up in Takapuna and will bring the family up for the weekend.”

And the challenge has now been put out to other Councils around New Zealand, with Marty Grenfell laying down the gauntlet to his counterparts and their teams to also get involved.

“If we can generate this sort of response here and enjoy the rewards of an engaged, fitter and healthier workplace, then why not every other Council? The banter around the place is already priceless and the enjoyment of staff and their families in being part of this CEO Challenge in the Sovereign Tri Series makes it a more than worthwhile exercise on our part. I just hope we haven’t scared the others off!”

See Marty Grenfell’s video Challenge to other Council’s around New Zealand CLICK HERE

ENDS

© Scoop Media