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Howard Middleton-Jones

Howard comes from a swimming background having trained with the Welsh squad in the 1960s and a member of the Swansea water polo club and the University water polo club during the 1960s to 1970s
Throughout the mid 1960s to 1970s Howard was also a voluntary member of the Langland Bay lifeguards and one of the original long board surfers from the mid 1960s to the 1970s
Howard obtained his Swimming Teachers Certificate initially in 1968 and the advanced Welsh Amateur Swimming Associations; swimming Teachers certificate in 1969.
In 1971-72 Howard was a swimming instructor at Shrewsbury swimming pools and in 1972 participated in the ASA swim Coaches course at Crystal Palace London.

From the 1970s to the 1980s Howard also competed in a number of Masters swimming events in addition to taking part in many cross country running events.

In 1983 Howard discovered the then little known sport of triathlon, and so started on the trail of cross training. Howard instigated the first Tri club in Wales (Triathletes Swansea) in 1985/86, and in 1986/87 won the Welsh Veterans Triathlon title at the Barry Island Triathlon.
In 1987 he organised one of the early Triathlons in Wales, the Pontardawe Tinman, and in 1988 Howard instigated a second and larger event, the Excalibur Triathlon challenge at Port Eynon Bay Gower, now called the Gower triathlon

Howard was also instrumental with other keen Triathletes, in helping to set up the Welsh Triathlon Association being on the first committee, and for some time was the Welsh representative for the BTA and refereeing a number of National triathlon events.

In 1990, Howard returned to Swansea University as a full time mature student and set up the Swansea University Triathlon club, now in 2015 celebrating its 25th anniversary as a club.
From 1988 to 1993 the combination of the University Triathlon club and the Triathletes Swansea team members competed regularly in many triathlons including the Sligo (Ireland) NCF half ironman on a number of occasions. The first year, 1988, one of the Swansea team members was the overall winner of the Sligo half-Ironman.

Howard was also chosen as the team manager for Wales at the first Home Countries championships in UK held at Hexham in 1990, Wales, Scotland and England, where Wales A team won the title.

1990 witnessed the sport of Triathlon as a demonstration sport in the 1990 Commonwealth Games at Auckland, New Zealand. Howard was invited to attend as team manager for Wales (owing to family commitments was unable to attend)

1990 Howard organised one of the first open water swimming training camps in the country, on Gower South Wales, where Steve Trew was guest coach and in 1991 attended the first Triathlon coaching course set up by the BTA.

Between 1984 and 1998 Howard had competed in over 100 Triathlons, biathlons and duathlons.

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Howard exiting swim at London Triathlon 1987

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Howard in transition swim-bike at the first Excalibur Triathlon Port Eynon, Gower 1988, now called the 'Gower Triathlon' - Howard also instigated and developed this event.

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Bath Triathlon 1989 - from left, Bill Peglar (ex Welsh vet title holder) Steve Bell (Swansea University Tri club member) Steve Trew (ex English vet title holder) Howard (ex Welsh vet title holder)


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