The UK’s first Festival of Sport Cornwall is now being unveiled. To take place on 14-16 September 2012, UK multisport enthusiasts will be able to take on this new and unique annual three day festival open to all, held in Mount’s Bay in West Cornwall.
Competitors of all abilities will be welcome to the South West of England to participate in this exciting new destination event, which will consist of a high-octane combination of triathlon, sportive cycling (long distance cycling road race), an off road 6 and 4 hour Enduro, Open Water Swimming and a Beach Run as well as live music, beach sports and much more festival fun – with events situated over some of the most entrancing coastal landscape of the St Aubyn Estates and against the stunning scenery around St Michael’s Mount in Mounts Bay, Marazion.
Expert team
The 2012 Festival of Sport Cornwall will be organised by the Participate Sport team, who have previously delivered world class events including the London Triathlon, Abu Dhabi Triathlon, Etape Caledonia, Run to the Beat and the Barcelona Triathlon, ensuring that the core sporting activity will be delivered to the highest of standards. With distances on offer to cater for all abilities, the schedule of events will also allow competitors to enter various activities over the weekend. Triathletes can try the Off Road Enduro, and Open Water Swimmers can take on the Beach Run.
Nick Rusling, CEO of Participate said “Having previously delivered the world’s largest triathlon, UK’s largest sportive and many other mass participation events, the real joy of being involved in these sports is spending time with the participants who are invariably sociable, fun and have a love of the great outdoors. The aim of this unique sporting event is to bring together like minded fitness enthusiasts across the UK who want to take part in highly professional sporting events in a hugely relaxed and fun environment.”
3 day festival
The three day sporting schedule guarantees competitors to have an exceptional sporting experience and also offers value for money for all the family, with Festival Fun and Beach Sports included in the event entry fee. Will Greenwood and Austin Healy, England rugby legends and Festival of Sport partners with Super Skills Travel said “We have already signed up to be part of the triathlon team relay. We will be down for the weekend with our families and will challenge anyone to take on the SST team. It should be a huge amount of fun.”
Charity
Wings for Life is the official charity and competitors will be encouraged to fundraise for its ground breaking spinal cord injury research. The charity will be providing training tips and bringing along some of its well-known supporters from the world of sport.
Nina Alexandersen, Country Manager at Wings for Life UK noted, “As Michael Phelps once said: ‘You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.’ This is true for the people who take part in the Festival of Sport, and it’s true for those of us working hard to find a cure for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
“So many of us take our mobility for granted and the fact that we are able to do everyday activities like running, cycling and swimming – even a little more mobility for someone with a SCI makes a world of difference. Thank you to Festival of Sport for supporting us this year!”
Swim, bike, run and be merry!
Alongside the main sporting activities, the Festival of Sport will deliver entertainment for both participants and visitors alike. Highlights will include live music and entertainment (with headline music and comedy acts to be announced in due course); locally sourced food by Jamie Oliver Catering; a beer tent and bar by Cornwall’s award-winning independent family brewers, St Austell Brewery; a Sporting Expo; and renowned keynote speakers including sports nutritionists, trainers and physiologists.
In addition, there will be sporting activities of a more relaxed nature with Touch Rugby, Gig Rowing, Beach Volleyball, Netball and Coasteering all on offer. As with all good festivals, camping and showers will be a big feature and will be set up no further than 100m away from the main site.
Launched in the UK’s exciting Olympic year, the festival will be hosted against the backdrop of the stunning St Michael’s Mount in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The event village, start and finish lines, beach sports, live music and entertainments, camping and car parking will all be conveniently located and staged within a few hundred metres proximity, ensuring all viewpoints and amenities are within easy access.
For those who want to participate or spectate, the Festival of Sport Cornwall promises to be a high-octane, fun-packed three day sporting festival for all the family.
Malcolm Bell, Head of Visit Cornwall said “In 2012 Cornwall will be celebrating the Olympic year with a host of sporting events both on land and the water and the Cornwall Festival of Sport will be one of the sporting highlights.
“Cornwall’s natural environment with its dramatic landscapes and seascapes creates the perfect arena for participants and spectators of the Cornwall Festival of Sport 2012. The swimming and triathlon element of the event will take place around the iconic St Michael’s Mount, making the event unique in the world of competitive open water swimming.”
James St Aubyn, St Aubyn Estates added, “We are so pleased to welcome participants in the first Festival of Sport Cornwall to this sublimely beautiful part of the world, and hope that they will enjoy the warm hearted hospitality that is typical of the area.”
