He was among the first to receive the Gold Pin Awards, given to three of the sport’s leading figures to highlight their significant and long standing contribution to triathlon.

 

Lessing, who retired last month, dominated the sport throughout the 1990s, accumulating five World Championship titles.

 

Two other outstanding figures were also honoured.

 

Dick Poole was the holder of the Lands End to John O’Groats cycling record when he became the first British Triathlon Association chairman following its founding in 1983.

 

He steered the organisation through its early years, holding the position of secretary general of the newly formed European Triathlon Union and ensured Britain was involved with the international developments.

 

Aleck Hunter started out as the first secretary general of the British Triathlon Association, helping to ensure the rapid growth of the sport through inspiring newcomers and challenging others to improve and expand on the foundations of the sport.

 

Yorkshire’s Alistair Brownlee took home the prestigious British Olympic Association Athlete of the Year award as well as the Male Elite Triathlete prize following his excellent win at the World Under-23 Championships in June and brave front running at the Olympic Games.

 

Recently married Helen Jenkins (née Tucker), deservedly won the female elite triathlon of the year award having fought back from prolonged injury to win the World Championships in Vancouver in June.

 

Inspiring Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington collected her second successive female long distance triathlete of the year award as she maintained her unbeaten record over the long distance discipline since turning professional at the end of 2006.

 

An exclusive interview with Simon Lessing will appear on insidethegames tomorrow.