A Carlisle PCSO will be representing his country at the World Duathlon Championships this weekend.
PCSO Tony Labram, who is part of the Carlisle South Neighbourhood Policing Team, has been called up to join Team Great Britain and compete in the ITU (International Triathlon Union) Duathlon World Championship.
For the first time the championship is being held on home soil at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh on Saturday 4 September, after last year being hosted by Concord in North Carolina, USA.
PCSO Labram can usually be found patrolling the streets of Currock and Upperby on his police bicycle, but will this weekend be pitting his skills against teams from across the globe in a 10km run, a 40km cycle and another 5km run. The tasks are completed continuously without breaks over a period of around two hours over a hilly Edinburgh course described as “the toughest ever”.
PCSO Labram is well known locally for his work teaching school children to pass their cycling proficiency tests and for conducting the popular Cycle Safe events all over the Carlisle City South area during school breaks.
He said: “I’m really proud to be representing the country at this prestigious event and am keen to do Currock and Upperby proud. I hope this will encourage even more local youngsters to get involved in our Cycle Safe sessions where they can learn about cycle safety and repairs, get free security marking and hi-viz slap wraps to help them stay safe.
“If I can achieve this, then so can anyone – by working hard and being committed we can be at the top of our game.”
PCSO Labram was chosen to join Team GB after successfully competing in numerous Police Events this year. He won the V40 category prize in the Duathlon Nationals at Nottingham, represented UK Police in the Inter-Services Duathlon Championships against the Army, RAF, Navy and Fire service in Wiltshire, won the V40 category prize in the PSUK Cross Country Championships in Cardiff and was the V40 category runner up in the PSUK Fell Race Championships in Derbyshire.
Further details about the ITU Duathlon World Championship can be found at the following website: www.edinburghduathlon2010.com
Pictured: PCSO Tony Labram with his Team GB kit.