The Castle Triathlon Series has announced the launch of its first long distance race at Hever Castle to be hosted in July 2014 (the official date will be announced on Monday 4 November). The new race, suitably entitled The Bastion, continues the castle theme, and has been created following the success of the inaugural Gauntlet event. This saw 400 competitors enter the middle distance race this year at The Hever Castle Triathlon in Kent on 29 September 2013.
The new 140.6 mile course is designed to offer the ultimate challenge for long distance triathletes whilst taking in the picturesque countryside around the High Weald of Kent and Ashdown Forest. The course will loop sections of the existing Gauntlet route deemed as ‘tough but stunning’ by many competitors, together with new course features.
The Gauntlet has been a successful addition to the Castle Triathlon Series of events, which ranges from Children’s, Junior, Sprint to Olympic and now new long distance courses. The Gauntlet will also be offered at all five of the castle-based venues next summer.
During the days of knights and castles in medieval Britain, the Bastion was the final stronghold of a fortification and represented the greatest challenge for anyone wishing to defeat it. Drawing on that analogy the Hever Bastion is billed as the ultimate test for long course triathletes in the UK.
Former Royal Marines Commando Brian Adcock is the Race Director of the Castle Triathlon Series and the brainchild behind The Bastion. Adcock, not one to shy away from extreme challenges himself, explained “Since conception, The Hever Castle Triathlon course has been heralded as iconic with such a stunning setting and countryside that motivates competitors.
“The Gauntlet was a huge success this year attracting a wide spectrum of competitors from world class elites to relative novices, and it is a natural progression to increase the race distances available at Hever for those wishing to compete in a full iron distance in 2014.”
He continued “It’s a challenging course with the bike ride for The Bastion taking in over 2000 metres of ascent but it’s not impossible and will be a fantastic opportunity for triathletes of all abilities to undertake a serious conquest whilst battling for the prestigious title.”
The Castle Triathlon Series is offering a nice prize pot of just under £10,000 for those bold enough to take on the Bastion challenge on top of the £20,000 annual series prize offering.
Full course maps and details will be provided shortly and in the meantime interested competitors can get a taster by viewing details of The Gauntlet course online, or by watching the event as broadcast recently on Channel 4.
To register interest in The Bastion before official registration opens, athletes can also put their marker down online.
www.castletriathlonseries.co.uk
