Third annual ETU Awards and Gala Dinner: Moscow

If it’s been a little quiet on the site over the last couple of days, apologies, your Editor has been working (honestly!), overseas, as host/MC of the third annual ETU President’s Gala Dinner, which included the 2017 ETU European Triathlon Awards.

First held two years ago in Paris (HERE) and last year in Rome (HERE), the venue for this year was Moscow, Russia.

The dinner – and the previous days ETU Presidents’ Conference – was wonderfully hosted by the Russian Triathlon Federation, and as always it was an honour to be be asked to host the event that took place on Saturday evening, aboard the Lastochka restaurant-boat on the Moskva river.

Last year, Great Britain won two of the awards – National Federation of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year (Alistair Brownlee) – for the 2016 season, and gained another two this time around.

Last year really was a breakthrough year for Jessica Learmonth (who I recently interviewed). Winner of the European Championships in Kitzbühel, she also gained her first World Triathlon Series podium results in Stockholm and at the Rotterdam Grand Final. Those results made her the highest placed European female in the 2017 WTS Rankings – and a worthy winner of the Female Athlete of the Year award.

While not present to collect the award in person, Jess had sent a video message. Her trophy was collected by the new British Triathlon CEO, Andy Salmon.

👏 Well deserved recognition on a fantastic season which included winning the European Champs in Kitzbuhel, and a 3rd place finish at the @worldtriathlon Grand Final race in Rotterdam!

@Jess_Learmonth has been awarded Female Athlete of the year at the @ETUtriathlon awards! pic.twitter.com/1iOfbszBM4

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) March 11, 2018

Portugal’s Joao Pereira was the winner of the Men’s Athlete of the Year awards, recognising his wins at the ETU Championships over the Sprint, Standard and Clubs Mixed Relay formats.

There was further success and recognition too in the category of Technical Official of the Year for Sarah Taylor-Hough. Sarah was the Technical Delegate for the ITU Rotterdam World Championships and is now an ITU Level 3 official.

Congratulation to Sarah Taylor-Hough on being awarded @ETUtriathlon Technical Official of the year! 🙌

Sarah has had many high profile race appointments and became the the first ever European Female to take charge of a WTS Grand Final in 2017! pic.twitter.com/7tVlcA51Wf

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) March 11, 2018

Here is the full list of award winners from the evening.

ETU Awards 2017 – Moscow, Saturday 10th March 2017

Emerging / Developing National Federation of the Year – Romania
National Federation of the Year – Spain
Organiser of the Year – Kitzbühel
Technical Official of the Year – Sarah Taylor-Hough (GBR)
Female Athlete of the Year – Jessica Learmonth (GBR)
Male Athlete of the Year – Joao Pereira (POR)
ETU Executive Board Award – Enrique Quesada (ESP)