Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Unwelcome letter


Unwelcome Letter 

A couple of days ago a letter arrived from my sports governing body, British Triathlon. The letter firstly mentions that a change has been made to the personal Accident Insurance Cover and advises that the letter attached (a second letter attached to the first letter) explains the changes. It then goes on to point out that my membership is due to expire on May 31st 2016. 

What it all boils down to is, that members who are over 75 years of age, are asked to obtain GP guidance and a signed dated letter before taking part in each event. So, no doctors note, no membership then? 

After reading the letter several times through I was a bit annoyed. Would you not think that winning your age group in the World Championship for two years running, said for itself that you are fit? Not to mention six other World Championships at various distances from Standard to Iron distance and over thirty National Championship titles. 

It seems to me the athletes at greater risk of accident and therefore more liable to make a claim, are the members who persist in bike training outside in the dark, and on many occasions icy conditions, weaving in and out of the traffic and jumping traffic lights, giving cyclists a bad name. Whilst my coach/husband and I, and a group of friends, meet safely indoors and do hard turbo training sessions during the dark months of winter. 

Don’t get me wrong, I do see the bit about me now being my being 76 (and a half) years old. My own view is that the training and events I do; contribute to my good health and fitness and do not make me a greater risk. 

Of course in the end I will have to do as they ask. It’s no good getting shirty. BUT, I do resent a young, neatly dressed little jobs-worth, who never does any exercise what so ever, sitting in a warm office in his cheap high street suit, saying I am a health risk and an accident waiting to happen.

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