One thousand triathletes, triple the number of last year, will take part in Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon in County Galway in the west of Ireland on Sunday 25 May. Around 100 competitors will be taking on The Gauntlet as the new half iron distance is hosted in the unique Burren landscape.
The organisers note that there is still time to sign up for the event for those who have not done so already – with easy and cheap accommodation and travel available.
The event is billed as a genuine festival of triathlon with races to suit everyone from top national and international performers to first timers and children. It is the first in the 2014 Castle Triathlon Series event calendar, which also includes races at English and French castle venues.
Everyone is welcome to visit the normally private castle estate of Lough Cutra and enjoy the day. Athletes can expect a festival atmosphere, a piper in the battlements, children’s entertainment, live music and set dancing afterwards in the castle courtyard.
Sponsor partners such Speedo’s swim help team and local triathlon specialists Amphibian King will also join the event village to provide any last minute competitor needs. Celebrity TV3 weatherman Deric Hartigan is taking part so the organisers point out that the sun is guaranteed to shine!
The Olympic Distance Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon is a Triathlon Ireland National Series race and a qualification race for the ETU European Triathlon Championships and ITU World Triathlon Championships 2015.
The international competition between Irish and UK teams is attracting some attention and competition is likely to be fierce.
Big family triathlon
‘Fast becoming the biggest family triathlon in Ireland’, Lough Cutra is particularly attractive to families because adults and children can all race on the same day. Three junior races cater for children aged from 8-15 and four adult races cover everything from Super Sprint right up to the new Gauntlet Middle Distance race (half iron distance) in 2014.
The course
The swims for each of the race distances are in the beautiful castle lake with the runs around the impressive castle grounds. The junior cycle routes are also inside the estate. The Gauntlet cycle route will be around the ‘amazing lunar landscape of The Burren’.
Everyone is welcome to come in to the normally private Castle estate and enjoy the festival atmosphere, kids attractions and live music afterwards. Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon is a Triathlon Ireland sanctioned event and is one of ‘the most scenic and the friendliest triathlons in the country’.
Lough Cutra Castle is part of the Castle Triathlon Series, which has events in three other castles in England and a Chateau in France – with a prize fund of €1,000 for the winning international team at each event.
www.castletriathlonseries.co.uk
