The junior triathlon section at Sittingbourne Striders goes from strength to strength.

Since forming last spring, membership is into the 40s and the club have just added another string to their bow.

Already benefiting from the use of the Sittingbourne School for running and Bayford Meadows karting track for cycling, as well as Snap Fitness for indoor winter training, coaches have landed a new swimming facility.

They’ve secured use of the private 20m pool at Kent Science Park, allowing them to offer youngsters Monday-night swimming coaching for just £15 a month.

“I’m really pleased,” said founder club Steve Fisher.

“It just seems to be working and once we hit spring time I think we’ll get lots more members.

“We’re talking about how big we can go this year without breaking the coaches we’ve got.

“I think we’re one of the biggest junior clubs in the region in a very short space of time.

“The club’s got a good relationship with Kent Science Park.

“The main adult club do their main 10-mile race from there so we’ve got quite a few connections.

“I think it’s going to be one of our strategic partners, like Bayford Meadows.

“To secure use of the private pool is a big thing for us.

“We’re offering swimming coaching for £15 a month - you can’t get near that price anywhere, even at leisure centres.

“It fits our philosophy. We want to be accessible to everyone in the community, no matter what background.”

Meanwhile, Roy Shears, a member of the club’s adult section, has organised a fundraiser for the junior arm.

He’s holding a 12-hour spinathon at Snap Fitness on Saturday, March 9 (7am-7pm) and has met his initial £1,000 target.

“Roy’s doing 12 one-hour spin sessions that people are booking on to and all the money raised is going to the juniors, which is fantastic,” said Fisher.

“There’ll be loads of Striders there and we want to try and make as much noise about it as possible.”

Spinathon donations can be made by clicking here.

For information on joining the junior club, call Steve on 07496 242166, email stridersjuniors@gmail.com or visit sittingbournestriders.co.uk/juniors