IM Talk’s loss is Tri NZ’s gain as Newsom joins national governing body in community development role

🎧 Many will know John Newsom (pictured left) as the man behind Canterbury’s cache of top level triathlon events. When he’s not event directing, or coaching, or inspiring his teen son Thomas to tri and cycling feats, he’s been one half of IM Talk, a podcast with a devout and suddenly disappointed following. 

The Full Send can reveal the good news behind the shock demise of Newsom’s show with Bevan Eyles (pictured right) – the former 8hr 51min Ironman has joined the Tri NZ team! 

Newsom has replaced Hannah Gentle in the national governing body’s community team as Regional Network Lead for Canterbury.

His role as Events Director for the Canterbury Triathlon Club, and formerly in establishing the club’s junior programme, made Newsom as natural fit for the role. He’s certainly talking a compelling new game with that same old, dulcet podcast voice. 

💬 “In Canterbury, like most of the country, we have so much untapped potential in what we can offer junior athletes,” Newsom told TFS. 

“We all see the numbers at the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlons and our regional events which often leaves us scratching our heads as to why we do not see more juniors flowing into our sport. In many cases it is simply down to manpower to join the kids to the pathways.

“My goal is to establish and strengthen the link to the Canterbury Triathlon Club programme, not just to massively increase our participation in the younger age groups but also to flow into age group racing and a life long passion for our sport. 

“To make this happen we need the triathlon community to pull together to build a culture within our clubs where everyone feels welcome.” 

Newsom’s introduction to triathlon came in 1991, combining with mates in a teams event. He was instantly infatuated and immersed himself in the sport.

He was coached to two Junior World Championships by John Hellemens and then raced full time for a couple of years in Europe and Asia once he’d graduated from University. In late 2004, he retuned to New Zealand to coach full-time, run events and training camps, podcast and establish the junior programme at CTC.