Phil represents Great Britain in Standard and Sprint distance triathlon for his age group. His major event this year was the European & Asian Championship in Istanbul at the end of August.
Here’s a short account from that event:
The picture above is of the start pontoon on the Bosporus Straight, which separates Europe from Asia. The suspension bridge on the right joins the two continents. And on the weekend of the 30th-31st August 2025, it connected two parts of our race, too – with racers cycling over it and swimming underneath it.
The first event was the sprint distance triathlon. Having woken up at four AM to catch a bus to the start line, my heart rate peaked slightly earlier than planned when I was told the bus drivers hadn’t arrived yet.
Apparently, they couldn’t get through because the roads had already closed for the race (Istanbul proving a little too efficient for its own good in this case). Fortunately, the drivers showed the kind of athleticism later displayed by the elite section – and made it to us in time.
Once arrived, I raced to set my bike and equipment up in the transition area so I could start on schedule. Then, it was time for the third race of the day: the actual race.
Victory, in this case, was 11th in the Sprint distance and 10th in the next day’s Standard distance race. Which at the European and Asian age group Championship, feels like a great day at the office.
I’d like to say thank you to everyone at ISC for your support. The ISC gym – and the community surrounding it – has helped to push me further than I ever would have thought possible. From riding over that little bridge on Henley Road, to peddling over the slightly bigger one on the Bosporus Straight.
What’s next? I’m waiting to find out whether I’ve qualified for the 2026 European and World Championships. And during 2026, I’ll also be aiming to qualify for the 2027 World Championships. So if you see me in the gym even more than usual, you’ll know why.
Thank you, ISC!
