Welcome to our monthly feature on Tri247, supported by Gatorade (www.gatorade.co.uk). We know (because we have the statistics…), that races and race results are one of the most popular and well used resources on the site, which thousands of you rely upon. In association with Gatorade, we’ll be profiling our Athlete of the Month from that information.

Our choice may be based on one, or perhaps a combination of factors including:

• Outstanding performance at one race,
• Consistent performances over a number of events,
• Recognition of an athletes efforts over many months, years…or even decades in some cases!
• Overcoming setbacks, challenges or obstacles.

Or indeed, any other reason we can think of. We will also be asking you for your nominations.

As well as the recognition, each monthly winner will receive:

• Six month's supply of Gatorade
• A limited edition Gatorade bike top
• Six Gatorade bike bottles
• Two Gatorade gym bottles
• A Gatorade towel
• A personalised engraved plaque

At the end of the year, one athlete out of the twelve will be selected as the overall Athlete of the Year.

May 2008: Rhian Roxburgh

Duathlon performances were responsible for the our first two monthly awards, but for May, triathlon performances have certainly caught the eye. We’ve chosen Rhian as the third recipient of our Athlete of the Month following a very busy and successful set of races during May. At the beginning of the month, Rhian won the Chirk Sprint (finishing in the top-10 overall, in a field of over 300), and then repeated that performance at Harlech two weeks later and at the Wetherby standard-distance event at the end of May. In the middle of all that, she finished eight overall at the first Corus Elite Series race at GreenPark, Reading, which was also her first elite triathlon.

We caught up with Rhian to find out a little more about her, just before she departed to Vancouver for the Age Group World Championships.

This is now Rhian's fourth season in triathlon, and she has a couple of useful attributes to make a decent triathlete; she likes cycling in the rain (useful when you live in Wales), and particularly likes early morning swim training..."when the conditions are against you and you can face up to it, it gives you a head start and makes you stronger".

Rhian is a member of Carneddau Tri club in North Wales, and is coached by Rich Brady of Tri-Monkey (www.tri-monkey.co.uk), who is also coach to the likes of Sam Herridge and Flora Duffy. Rhian, along with husband and fellow triathlete Simon attended a training camp in Italy with Rich & Co. earlier this year, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Rhian trains with Simon a lot, which she says is a real benefit to both of them.

In 2007, Rhian won the Welsh Sprint (Tuska), Standard (Pembroke) and Middle distance (Bala) championships, as well as Chirk, Harlech, Milton Keynes plus fourth overall at Dambuster. In Lausanne in 2006 she won the bronze medal at the Age Group Worlds, and finished sixth last year in Hamburg, and so clearly loves the buzz of racing & competition.

For the remainder of 2008, her main goals are the Age Group Worlds in Vancouver, Antwerp 70.3, Windsor Elite, the Corus Elite Series and hopefully the London Triathlon (elite) too. She is really looking forward to the 70.3, and thinks the distance will suit her.

Her favourite races? "Harlech Sprint, it has an amazing atmosphere, a real community spirit and I love going back and racing there". Also, winning her first standard distance event, Bala, "was a great feeling to actually cross the line first, which is different from a sprint race where you often start at different times". Finally, winning a medal in Lausanne was a complete shock, "I'd had a terrible year, suffered with asthma, collapsed at a few races and wasn't really enjoying things, and my only goal in Lausanne was to actually enjoy the race. I didn't actually know I'd won a medal for about two hours, because initially I was fourth on the provisional results. To win a medal was a complete shock and a wonderful surprise". We wish Rhian all the best, and hope her great form can perhaps help her to another medal in Vancouver.

Honourable mentions this month go to:

• Stu Anderson (Ful-on Tri). Stuart clearly has a fan club out there. They wanted to recognise his performance at Ironman Lanzarote where a storming 3:12 marathon secured another Hawaii spot in the 30-34 Age Group, after qualifying last year in Brazil at the first attempt. Aside from his athletic abilities, his positive attitude and willingness to help others in the club is greatly valued.
• Chris Stuart (Army Tri Club). After breaking two ribs in a bike crash in February, Stuart recovered to win gold in the 30-34 Age Group at the European Triathlon Championships (first Brit overall), defending the title he won in 2007.
• Edwina Carter (Optima Racing Team). Edwina finished April with a ninth place overall finish, and a swift 4:22 clocking at the Lisboa Long Distance International. During May, she both races in the Thames Turbo Sprint Series to add to her victory in March, setting course records in the process. She also finished 4th in a very competitive Morden Aquathlon.

Do you know anyone who deserves this award? If so, tell us! Get in touch with us on aotm@tri247.com and tell us who you would like us to recognise and why.