BBC Sports Personality unsung hero award humbling, Nantwich man says

Having qualified in July last year for the Iron Man 70.3 triathlon world championships, Mr McIntyre is currently in New Zealand and will miss the awards ceremony, but said he would catch up on iPlayer afterwards as it was "always thrilling" to watch.

"There's been some absolutely fantastic people who've been nominated for this award in the past, people who've won it," he said.

"I've seen the competition – the things they've achieved, themselves and others, is absolutely marvellous. To be among those people is an immense honour, really."

When he first launched the club, he said he found people were often intimidated by the prospect of combining running, cycling and swimming and they felt like they had to be "super fit" to take part – a perception he hoped he has helped overturn.

He says it will feel "like a Charlie Bucket and the chocolate factory" moment that's "out of this world", if he goes on to win the national award as well.