Memorial race to be held in honour of Dubai triathlete Roy Nasr

Hundreds have already signed up for The Roy Nasr Memorial Super Sprint, and Sprint Triathlon, to honour the champion triathlete killed while out cycling in Dubai.

Roy Nasr, who was training to compete in Ironman South Africa, where he hoped to qualify for the Ironman World Championships, before being struck and killed by a car while out cycling. Courtesy Tri DubaiShow less

DUBAI //

A memorial trophy named after a popular triathlete who

will be presented at a race next month.

The Roy Nasr award will be given at the Super Sprint and Sprint Triathalon on October 12 at Jebel Ali Golf Hotel.

It is named after Roy Nasr, the 49-year-old Lebanese expatriate who was knocked over and killed by a drunk driver while cycling near Safa Park with two friends.

He was supposed to be race director for the event next month, so the event has been named after him.

The St Francis of Assisi church in Jebel Ali was packed with mourners for Nasr’s funeral on September 10.

“He was heavily involved in setting it up,” said Ian Le Pelley, who was a co-founder of event organiser Race ME, with Nasr.

“So it’s just a natural impulse to honour his memory by doing this.”

The trophy will be awaded to the triathlete who has done the most to inspire people over the last 12 months – someone in Nasr’s own mould.

“Roy was a person who inspired people in many different ways,” said Mr Le Pelley. “This award is to try to reflect one of his characteristics.”

Mr Le Pelley is also a co-founder of TriDubai, a group which is also organising several memorial events dedicated to Nasr.

A

and the group is looking to establish a permanent memorial bench on the beach where Nasr used to organise Saturday swims.

“Roy was a very close friend of a lot of us,” said Mr Le Pelley. “He made a massive impact on a lot of people’s lives.

“Nothing we can do can bring him back, but we want to do this to honour his memory.”