It’s been another amazing year for long distance triathletes across Britain and Ireland again, with major titles being won across the Ironman and Challenge series and some awe-inspiring achievements at age group level and in domestic competition.

Each month I have been awarding a Triathlete of the Month award to pro’s and age groupers who have put in some inspiring performances, but now it’s up to you to vote for the triathlete of the year. The shortlist has been selected and it’s your turn to vote.

Last year it was Joe Skipper and Jodie Swallow who were the eventual winners after 3,500 votes were cast, both impressing with world class performances on some of the biggest canvasses on which they ply their art. Who will it be this time round? Will we have our first ever defending champions? You decide!

Cast your vote for the coveted Beyond Going Long Triathlete of the Year 2015 award. Before you do so, you might like to read a little bit about the athletes below. Voting closes midnight 1st March.

Lucy Charles

Wow, what an impact Lucy made on the age-group scene in 2015. World titles in the 70.3 and Ironman championships and a headline grabbing swim at Kona – 3 minutes than pro leading lady Jodie Swallow – means she is the one to beat on the age-group scene and tipped to be a new leading lady should she go pro.

Susie Cheetham

What a huge, huge year from Susie – capped off by a world class performance in Kona where she surprised (not us who tipped her!) some of the tri-community with a 6^th place. With wins at Challenge Sardinia and Ironman 70.3 Dublin plus podium performances in nearly every race she competed at including Ironman 70.3 Norway, Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire, Challenge Salou and the Ironman African Championships – Susie is now dining at the top table and a world class operator.

Lucy Gossage

We coined the phrase “Gossage-fest” in 2012 and it still holds – a “Gossage-Fest” features a race winning performance from Lucy! A top-10 at the Ironman World Championships was more than backed up by truly dominant wins at our domestic marquee events, Ironman UK and Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire. You can add to that podiums at Ironman South Africa and Ironman 70.3 Barcelona.

Rachel Joyce

She will go down as one of the all time greats but still the ‘big one’ eludes her. Don’t let this take away the tremendous achievement of 2^nd in Kona though. Rachel Joyce also collected podium results at the Ironman North American Texas Championships and Ironman 70.3 Timberman.

Jodie Swallow

A truly thrilling racer, Jodie had a brilliant 2015. Ironman Africa Continental champion, broken course record at the Ironman 70.3 South Africa, Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote champion and podiums at Ironman 70.3 US St George Championships and Challenge Phuket – it was a brilliant year for Jodie.

Fraser Cartmell

Don’t let his tough day at Kona stand against Fraser, the path to get there is a fantastic athletic and logistical achievement in itself! Don’t forget his 2^nd at Ironman Wales 2014 (which counts in this seasonal poll), 2^nd at Ironman UK and 7^th at Ironman 70.3 Bintan which was a globe-trotting effort to get to the big race.

Tim Don

The Don brings a high quality CV to long course racing and doesn’t disappoint! Fantastic performances over the 70.3 distance ensured Kona qualifications (including the win at Ironman Mallorca in 2014), counting Ironman 70.3 Monterrey, Ironman Latin America Championships in Brasilia 70.3, Ironman USA 70.3 Championships in St George, Ironman 70.3 Equador and a podium at the competitive 70.3 Boulder race. Don focused his Ironman efforts in 2015 on one race, the biggie, and came in 15^th on his Kona debut. In any other year this would have made him the top Brit on the circuit by a mile!

David Mcnamee

New(ish) to long course racing, Mcnamee has taken to it like a duck to water and continues a fine tradition of classy Scots racing iron-distance. Mcnamee’s run was of the highest quality in Kona and he was rewarded with 11^th place. A big win at the marquee Ironman UK event, plus podiums at Ironman 70.3 Kraichgau and Ironman 70.3 Mallorca demonstrate that we have another international level male pro operating.

Charlie Pennington

Pennington has stepped up to long course AG racing with distinction. Second in the world in his age group at the Ironman World Championships is a huge achievement in one of the most competitive age groups but when it is backed up a great 9th overall at super-competitive Ironman Austria, plus his pedigree at short course racing and 70.3, Charlie is a very special athlete.

Joe Skipper

It was a huge year for this countries (arguably) hottest long course athlete. The highlight for us as spectators was that thrilling performance at the ITU Long Course World Championships that resulted in a historic bronze medal, but perhaps the most impressive update to the CV will be the 2^nd at Ironman Texas US Championships – which stopped this international talent from retiring and pushing on to the heights he now stands at. Add a win at the Rubicon, and a 3^rd at Ironman UK, Skipper is our world-class operator at long course racing in the UK.