A stick or twist choice for 'tri' star

TRIATHLETE Sam Herridge makes no bones about it, she wants to go the whole hog and chase the dream of representing Great Britain on the world stage. In response to last Saturday's sports comment, the 30-year-old has been given the opportunity to air her views on the challenges facing her and outlines the sacrifices needed to reach the top of her game:

'I gave up a very comfortable life in Guernsey at the age of 30 to try and chase a dream of representing Great Britain on the world stage. This was my choice. I am not young, but neither am I 'clapped out'.

In fact the top elite triathletes in Britain at the moment include Andrea Whitcombe (age 36) and Michelle Dillon (35), so there is enough time for me to peak for the 2012 Olympics in my opinion, when I will be the younger age of 34.

I am currently based in Cornwall where I am training on some of the hardest hills I have ever seen.

However, there are only so many things you can do with a lack of financial support.

The reality is that after a year of part-time working and full-time training, I have had to go back to work full-time in the UK to enable me to afford to live, train and compete.

A typical day for me involves getting up to train at 6am, grabbing a bite of breakfast before getting to work at 8.30am.

My lunchtime is spent either in the gym or pool before grabbing a sandwich at my desk. At the end of the day you will probably find me on my turbo in the lounge for an hour, before making my own tea, sitting down for half-an-hour before going to bed to grab some sleep before doing it all over again.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not moaning, because my way of life is my choice. However, where I do get frustrated is when my lack of finances impact on my potential to get any further on the world triathlon scene.

I have been lucky enough in the past to be supported by CMC, Ian Brown's Cycles, AFM and the Guernsey Sports Commission. However, for 2008, apart from funding from La Grande Mare (which has enabled me to part-fund a training camp this year) my sponsorship opportunities have come mainly from kit provided by UK sponsors - a shame seeing as I am passionate about the island I call home and which is on my racesuit every time I compete.

However, in the world of triathlon, the way you get selected for national representation is not as simple as performing a time to a set standard.

Instead, you have to compete in the European races to gain points to enable to you to put yourself forward to try and race in the World Cup events - from which British Triathlon select the team.

It is only from these World Cup events that you can be selected for the British elite team. Therefore, logic dictates that if you don't compete in the European races, then you are not in the running for British selection - harsh but true.

Seeing as I was unable to compete in Europe last year owing to injury, my name is sadly not on the consideration list for the Olympic Games this year in Beijing and I will have to re-set my targets for 2012.

This year I am facing the decision of either putting myself into major debt to chase a dream, as I need to compete in Europe to establish myself, or saying, ?what's the point??, which is even more frustrating seeing as I am finally, after a two-year struggle with injury, able to train to the best of my ability.

My point is that regardless of the funding or sponsorship available, if you want something badly enough, you will find a way to do it - simple. I will never give up on my dream - that is not in my genetic make-up as anyone who knows me will tell you.

However, a little bit of financial support is always gratefully received, as in reality it is the lack of this that causes the heartache.

I may be older than the youth sports stars of today's Guernsey. However, I do have the wealth of experience which has seen me at two Commonwealth Games (in two different sports), eight Island Games (which in every one I have collected at least one medal), and collect numerous national and county medals.

And it is only now, at the grand old age of 30, that I have my greatest chance of sporting success. Will a lack of financial support have an impact? I seriously hope not.'