The organisers of the Castle Triathlon Series have announced the route for the inaugural Bastion long course race on Sunday 13 July 2014 at Hever Castle. The course maps allude to an ‘ultimate triathlon challenge’, and what could well become known as one of the toughest long course triathlons in the UK.
The swim is two loops of the unique 1.9K swim course enjoyed by the Gauntlet competitors for the first time in 2013. The swim course leaves Hever Castles’ Italianate loggia – taking competitors down the length of the main lake before passing the Japanese tea house and heading into the scenic river section. This tributary of the River Eden wraps around 16 Acre Island allowing spectators to watch and cheer competitors on from only a few metres away.
The three loop 60K bike course represents arguably one of the toughest long course routes on offer in the UK with just under 3,000 metres of ascent. The circular route will take competitors out of Hever Castle, up through the High Weald of Kent before passing through and over the Ashdown Forest and into the village of Maresfield.
After a quick tour of the village, competitors retrace their steps to the top of the forest before returning to Hever via the historic and quintessentially English villages of Groombridge, Fordcombe and Penshurst.
Finally the 10.5K run route, completed four times by the competitors, is mainly off road trail running and circumnavigates the two stunning estates of Hever and Chiddingstone Castle.
Cut off times are as below:
- Swim: 2 hours 20 minutes – PLUS 10 minutes to leave T1 (total time 2 hours 30 minutes = DNF if not left T1 by 08:30)
- Bike: 10 hours 30 minutes – PLUS 15 minutes to leave T2 (total time 10 hours 45 minutes = DNF if not left T2 by 16:45)
- Run: 15 hours 30 minutes – start of new lap – competitors completing their third lap after 21.30 will not be allowed to continue on their 4th lap and will be directed down the finish chute
These times are cumulative totals (i.e. athletes have 8 hours to complete the bike if taking the maximum time on the swim.)
All competitors will need to attend an obligatory briefing on Saturday 12 July. Athletes who sign up by midnight on 30 November enjoy the early bird discount of 30% off the £320 plus VAT race entry.
www.castletriathlonseries.co.uk
