Bury Police Constable Becomes Sporting Ambassador

Bury St Edmunds Police Constable Simon Bourne is hoping to inspire a new generation to take part in sport and get active with his new role as a Sporting Ambassador for St Edmundsbury.

The initiative is run by Abbeycroft Leisure and gives nationally ranked sports people free access to local sports facilities for personal training and development. PC Bourne, who works in the Professional Development Unit at Bury Police Station accompanying new recruits on patrol, has competed in international triathlon, Ironman and Ultraman competitions.

In his new Ambassador role, PC Bourne will attend sporting events in the St Edmundsbury borough throughout the year, encouraging the community to get involved and promoting sport. He says, "This is a fantastic opportunity that I am really pleased to be offered. I already use the local facilities for my Ultraman training, putting in many hours at the swimming pool in Bury so this is a great way to say thank you for all the local support I've had, and it means I can give something back.

"Sport has always been a big part of my life and despite having a full time job firstly with the RAF and now as a Police Officer, I've always managed to fit in training and competitions. I'm really looking forward to working with the young people across the borough to encourage them to be active and take part in the wide range of sports on offer.

Sport has given me the opportunity to travel, meet new people and compete in some of the toughest races in the world; here in St Edmundsbury it can give everyone the chance to have new experiences, make new friends and just have a great time in general! I'm delighted to be seen as a sporting role model, although I'm not sure how many people would want to do the type of endurance racing I take part in!"

PC Bourne's first job as Sporting Ambassador will be to help launch the 2010 St Edmundsbury Sports Awards. On Wednesday 24th February he will speak about his Ultraman racing, which consists of a 6.2-mile swim, 260-mile bike ride and a double marathon over three days. He will talk about his training regime and his sporting plans for the future, as well as his job as a Police Officer.

The St Edmundsbury Sports Awards are run each year by Abbeycroft Leisure to recognise outstanding sporting achievements made by sports men, women and juniors throughout the year and to celebrate the huge amount of work that takes place within sport in the borough of St Edmundsbury. Awards are made in twelve categories and this year's ceremony is to be held on Sunday 26th September at the new Apex venue in Bury St Edmunds.

Abbeycroft's Sports Development Officer Michelle Curran says, "We are delighted that Simon has agreed to be a Sporting Ambassador for Abbeycroft Leisure. One of Abbeycroft's key aims is to discover and support the sports stars of the future and Simon is an excellent role model for our young sports men and women. His achievements in the international triathlon, Ironman and Ultraman competitions while doing his day job as a police officer supporting new recruits are truly inspiring."

PC Bourne has a busy year ahead. After finishing 11th and setting a new British record at Ultraman Canada in 2009, he has just received his invitation for the 2010 Ultraman World Championships in Hawaii in November. He has already started his training, which he hopes will be even more effective and focused than before after becoming a scientific research guinea pig!

"During January and February I have been working with the Human Performance Unit at the University of Essex. I carried out two sets of cycling tests wired up to a computer and samples were taken throughout.

During the three-week period I had to stick to a strict diet and drinks regime. It was incredibly tough but will provide me with important physiologic feedback on which to base my training.

"During June and July I will be taking part in a charity cycle ride called the Rock Ride. This is a multi charity ride where I will be representing The Royal British Legion. It is a 1,500-mile ride from Gibraltar to Buckinghamshire averaging between 120-150 miles a day. It will be hot and tough but should give me the cycling stamina I'll need to do well in Hawaii."

Further information about the Ultraman World Championships can be found at ultramanlive.com , and for more details on the Rock Ride visit: www.rockride.eu