The Eirias Triathlon, based in North Wales, is back for 2013. The event organiser, Xtra Mile, has confirmed that the 3 August event will be based at the stunning new Porth Eirias water sports hotspot in Colwyn Bay, which is due to open in April 2013.
According to Xtra Mile, the Eirias middle distance triathlon now has all the ingredients to make it one of the UK’s leading triathlons. A new, permanent beach is being formed at Porth Eirias by shipping in 500,000m3 (177,000 tonnes) of sand.
This new beach will host the start of the triathlon and will see hundreds of triathletes running into the sea to complete the 1900m swim leg. The triathletes will then run over the top of the Porth Eirias building to the transition area on the seafront where they set off on the new, 2 lap, 83K cycle leg that takes them through some of North Wales’ most picturesque scenery.
The 21.1K, half marathon run utilises the coastal cycle path providing runners with a relatively flat, refreshing run along the coast to Llandullas where they turn to return to the finish at Porth Eirias.
Standard and middle options
Following the success of the inaugural middle distance race last year, Xtra Mile Events is introducing a new standard distance race; giving a further option for triathletes to take part. The Eirias Triathlon takes place on Saturday 3 August 2013. As the organisers point out, a Saturday race also makes the event an opportunity for a club weekend away or a mini break with family and friends on the beautiful North Welsh coast. There are also plenty of activities to keep the non-competing members of the family busy during the race.
Race Director Simon Hill is confident that the success of Xtra Mile’s award winning Llandudno Sea Triathlon can be repeated along the North Wales coast. He commented: “We are very excited about the 2013 Eirias Triathlon. Porth Eirias has to be the finest venue in the country for a triathlon and launching the new standard distance race to run alongside the middle distance triathlon makes this race accessible to a wider triathlon audience. We shall announce an entertainment programme once the complex opens in April 2013.”
The middle distance race incorporates a 1900m swim, 83K cycle and 21.1K run. The standard distance race takes place alongside the Eirias Middle Distance Triathlon on the same course with a 1500m swim, 42K cycle and 10K run.
Hill added, “For all non-Welsh speakers out there, Eirias is an old Welsh word that means blazing hot and we thought that this was a very appropriate name for one of the hottest events in the UK triathlon calendar!”
Registration to The Eirias Triathlon is now open at www.xtramileevents.com/enter-now with individual entry fees of £100 for the middle distance and £62 for the standard distance race. Team relay entries are available too, at a cost of £150 or £75 respectively. The first wave will start at 08:00 GMT on Saturday morning.
The organisers continue to note that the Eirias promises to deliver another memorable day in the North Wales sporting calendar, and the chance for some to literally take the plunge and see why triathlon is the fastest growing sport in the UK.
Xtra Mile Events is a sports events company based in Altrincham, Cheshire. It is the organiser of high profile triathlons and sporting events across the North West of England and Wales. These include: the Oulton Park Spring and Autumn Duathlons, Greater Manchester Marathon, Wilmslow Triathlon, Rhyl Triathlon, Llandudno Sea Triathlon, Buxton Triathlon, Leeds Xpress Triathlon, The Eirias Middle Distance Triathlon, Macclesfield Triathlon, Leeds Triathlon and South Manchester Triathlon.
