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Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports. Â
His first role after graduating was delivering the horse racing service on the BBC’s Ceefax service and he soon went on to become one of the three founding editors of Sporting Life. Â
Horse racing was the focus initially, but it soon became – and still is – one of Europe’s biggest general sports websites. Â
With a close interest in cycling, Jonathan was approached towards the end of 2009 to create and run the official website and social media channels for Team Sky. Â
Team Sky – now the INEOS Grenadiers – were a newly-formed professional road racing team whose stated aim was to win the Tour de France, the sport’s biggest race, within five years and with a British rider. Â
That was achieved in less than three years when Bradley Wiggins triumphed in Paris in 2012 and soon after he won the men’s time trial gold medal at the London Olympics. Â
As well as Wiggins, Turner worked closely with some of the biggest names in cycling including Mark Cavendish and Sir Dave Brailsford, Team Sky’s general manager. Â
Turner shaped both the digital and fan engagement strategy as Team Sky became the most popular cycling team in the world. Â
The website Jonathan launched received much critical acclaim, including becoming the first cycling site ever to be shortlisted for the prestigious Sports Industry Awards, up against the likes of Guardian Sport that year. Â
Using the ‘inspiration to participation’ message he also helped BSkyB deliver on their commercial, brand and CSR objectives for cycling as over a million Britons were encouraged to get back on their bikes and cycle regularly again by the end of 2012. Â
Running is another sport Jonathan is heavily involved with, both actively and also from a volunteer perspective – he’s chair of his local club Ilkley Harriers, is a qualified England Athletics coach and takes groups out each week. Â
And on RUN247 he’s led the coverage of the biggest trail running races, such as UTMB and the Barkley Marathons. Â
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