First new member of the 2019 Team Freespeed squad announced

In January this year (HERE), we highlighted that UK-based Team Freespeed (www.teamfreespeed.com) were recruiting for the 2019 season, seeking “up to 3 athletes” to join the team. With a big focus on the IRONMAN World Championship and the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (to be held in Nice, France this year), the squad has collected many podiums in Kona in recent years, from the likes of Alison Rowatt, Ruth Purbrook, Charlie Pennington, Catherine Faux and Andy Greenleaf, among several others.

The popularity of the team and the volume and quality of the applications received, means that they have actually added four new members – with Neil Eddy the first name to be announced.

You may remember I interviewed Neil before his first Kona start in 2017 (HERE), where he went on to finish in 9:27:00 (19th in M30-34). 12 months later her returned and improved to 8:45:38 (8th in M30-34), which made him the second fastest British Age-Group athlete across all categories (and quite possibly, the second fastest British Age-Group time ever in Hawaii?).

Of their selection of Neil, the team said:

Neil was World Age Group Champ in 2014 but it wasn’t until 2016 when he raced his first IM in Barcelona and was the first AGer across the line in 8 hours 46 mins.

He backed that up in 2018 with first AGer at Bolton and went on to get 8th in 30-34 age group at Kona in 8 hours 45 mins.

We’re certain Neil will step up again at Kona this year and we can’t wait to see how fast he can go.

So Neil’s big on performance but what we really love too is he’s a school games teacher in Cornwall and hugely passionate about sport and inspiring future talent. Definitely the kind of teacher we’d want kids to have.

Welcome to the team Neil.