Roth Ladies & Club Ladies in 2025

Thames Turbo Ladies in Tri has had one of its most buoyant years yet across 2025 with 23 new female members to date.

The club had its annual outing to Challenge Roth full distance triathlon (individual or teams) where we are fortunate enough to receive allocated places which get filled up on a first come first serve basis. Year on year we have filled the spaces and we have seen a growing number of women interested and those committing to the challenge. 

Pre 2025 we had a small number of women participating in the relay and full distance at Roth but this year we saw new energy, with sign ups growing from 2 in 2023+2024; Anastasia Ridley (individual); Rachel Brooks (relay run leg) and Sophie Stansbury (relay bike leg) to 4 in 2025; Michele Moore Duhen, Sarah Moore, Nicole Hamilton (all individuals) and Emily Barrow (relay bike leg). 

To shed light on 2025 Ladies Roth experiences some of them have shared their journey’s - for some, it was their first long distance tri and relay or part of a series of multiple long distance triathlons in one year!

Michele Moore Duhen

“Roth was my bucket list full distance triathlon, and a big goal to heal from my marriage ending while also tackling my fear of swimming. And while I had completed 8 marathons and done lots of long distance cycling, when I signed up for Roth I had only done 1 sprint tri where I had 3 panic attacks in the water, so I was taking on an ENORMOUS ask of myself. 

“But it helped having other Turbos women on the journey, especially Nicole, who always gives good advice. 

“The day was beyond what I had imagined. It certainly threw up challenges on each section (hello first time EVER non-wetsuit swim!), but I had one of my best girlfriends there supporting me, and I knew that Sarah, Nicole and Emily were also out smashing it on the course, so that helped pull me along. I just took each part of the day as it came and had a personal mantra I used whenever I needed a boost. What I loved most about the weekend was seeing how many women were out on the course - whether taking on the individual or relay challenge, it was inspiring. 

“If you ever question if you can do an IM, I am here to tell you that you absolutely can! Please do sign up for Roth - it was such an experience, and you will feel so empowered when you cross that finish line. I enjoyed it so much that I am doing it again in 2026! And I tell everyone, if I can do it, then anyone can do it.“

Sarah Moore

“Roth was my first full distance triathlon, a tentative goal for a while (barring injuries!). I chose Roth purely for the camaraderie with the other turbos, knowing it would make a long day enjoyable and it didn’t disappoint! 

“The energy on the course was amazing! Whether the mutual nerves at the swim start, the emotional tears up Soler Hill, the thankful tears when handing my bike over to a volunteer in T2 (and telling them they could keep it after cycling 180km with a broken bike computer!) and the epic cheers and high fives on the run - the day surpassed my expectations (and the chocolate milk at the end even more so!). So much so I’m going out again for round 2 in 2026!

“So lovely to see so many Turbos on the course as well as at Turbo corner and so so inspired by the other awesome ladies out there. With the right training this is definitely an achievable distance and would recommend this to anyone!”

Emily Barrow

“My participation in a Roth team came from a tentative response to a WhatsApp message, which was quickly taken as confirmation that I would take on the 180km bike leg. My involvement in tri has taken a backseat through 2024/2025 thanks to the demands of the final years of my O&G training. I simply haven’t been able to commit to the training for my preferred longer distance events. I’ve never done an Iron-distance event but it’s something I remain “curious” about and I know one day curiosity will eventually get the better of me. 

“It’s also something I’ve been scared to commit to alone. I can see, from watching others, that it takes a village to train, travel and compete on the day. Being part of a relay team allowed me to take part with support and to see how the logistics would work in a safe way. It also allowed me to be part of everyone else’s village and I loved that around my own “race” I could support everyone else’s. 

“I don’t have other experiences to compare to, but the Roth vibes were something else - from waking up on the campsite on race morning to Hans Zimmer “Time” blaring over the speakers, the swim start cannon, the pro athlete interactions (“James, it’s Nikki Bartlett”), the comradery in relay transition, the epic support from the volunteers (sorry to the kid I hit with a bottle), the tears in my eyes on Solar Hill, Turbo Corner and sharing the finish line with James and Aaron. I spent most of the ride thinking I couldn’t imagine getting off the bike and running a marathon, but I left the weekend believing with Turbos around me, this was something I could actually do. I’m so excited for you all.”

Forecast for Challenge Roth 2026 we have a further massive increase, with a total of 10 women (2 full relay teams and 5 individuals). The full list below:

Individuals

Caz Buckland (1st time), Maria Jovani (1st time), Jessica Rusby (1st time), Sarah Moore (2nd time), Michele Moore Duhen (2nd time)

Team relays

Team 1: Nicole Hamilton ( Swim), Lexie Williamson (Bike), Rebecca Mawsen(Run) 

Team 2: Gabbie Icmat (Swim), Larissa Clay (Bike), Lindsay Fraser-Moodie (Run) 

Alongside Roth, there has been a noticeable increase in participation generally amongst those newly joining the club, whether its a signed up race or just want to give it a “tri”. Throughout the year we have logged an inspiring number of women who have caught the tri bug and taken part in all different tri distances. With lots of ladies delving into their first tri events too!

As a part of the training for triathlon we have seen great participation in the individual disciplined events from long distance running, swimming, cycling to test the stamina to another level. To highlight a few Gail Edmans topping up her swim miles at the 2 way Windermere (21 miles) with the goal of the Channel Swim in the near future; Maria Jo running the most challenging Marathons in the UK in the Cybi Coastal Marathon, Wales as well as Larissa Clay, Lexie Williamson and Caz Buckland at L’Etape du Tour de France Femmes. 

We are also proud to see women who have progressed from smashing there PB’s to leaving it all out on the course and earning themselves a place in the World Championships. This year in the AG British Sprint Champs Jessica Rusby came 5th and also in 2025 European Standard Tri she achieved the silver medal. Also joining her in the Worlds was Caoimhe de ste Croix (Kiva) who also qualified for the Aquathlon and in both races she came in the top 10! Aswell as Moira Brailsford representing herself in the European Middle Distance and Standard. Incredible ladies and what an inspiration. Topping it off at the 70.3 Ironman World Championships, Marbella we saw Rosie Morgan who qualified at NZ for her first 70.3 this January. As well as Chloe Dooley who came 17th overall, 2nd GB home in the 25-29 AG - So impressive ladies. 

Fast forward to 2026 Katie Lawrence who is new into tri this year has an incredible story and  achieved a qualification at Barry Island Sprint in 2026 Worlds Sprint in Pontevedra as well as qualifying for the Euro Sprint Duathlon at Banyoles at the Thruxton Mass Attack Duathlon. Also Jess Rusby and Caoimhe de ste Croix (Kiva) both qualified for the European Standard distance in Tarragona, Spain which they got her place at Hever Castle. Natalie Holden qualified at Hradec Kralove at her first 70.3 and Nicole Hamilton qualified at Porec 70.3, Croatia to both earn a place at Nice 70.3 World Championships. Finally we saw Caz Buckland gain a position at Kona World Championships 2026 after winning her Age group 30-35 at Ironman Wales - with the adjusted qualifying rules this made for an absolute ft to position herself as she did.

A moment for the support the ladies provide for another and also how as a club we make sure we mix the training with socials and also building on skills and confidence sessions. This year we arranged fun socials with Pilates taught by our member Katie Lawrence, to bike maintenance sessions by another member Richie and recent collaboration with Giro Cycles. Additionally the Hillingdon cycle circuit is also a great way to improve bikehandling skills on existing and new bikes. As we head into winter and the weather retreats some of us to the turbo, others head into the forest trails and enjoyed MTB which has been great to improve bike handling skills whilst being surrounded in nature, 

The Thames Turbo Ladies momentum in tri is inspirational and full of great support and encouragement. Thank you for all that you are and your contributions to make what the club community is today. We look forward to an existing 2026, but for now to reflect and recover and celebrate a brilliant 2025!