This year’s Cholmondeley Castle Triathlon in Cheshire, North West England, will grow to two days (24-25 June 2017) following on from last year’s event which saw 1,300 triathletes compete, including the BBC Helen Rollason Sports Personality of the Year Award winner Bailey Matthews. The two-day triathlon festival, now in its 8th year, sees the addition of Triathlon Mixed Relays this weekend, the new triathlon race format that was recently added to the programme of events for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Following on from the inclusion of the fast and exhilarating Triathlon Mixed Relays race format in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Castle Triathlon Series has become one of the first triathlon events in Europe to feature the format, including at the Cholmondeley Castle Triathlon. The Mixed Relay sees four team members each complete a 250m swim, 5km cycle and 1.5km run. Triathletes can compete as a Mixed Adult Relay team or as a Family team. Aspiring young athletes aged 13 and over will also take part in the Junior Relay race, covering 150m/2km/600m within the Cholmondeley Castle estate.
Race Director, Brian Adcock said “We are thrilled to bring the new mixed relay triathlon format to Cholmondeley Castle Triathlon’s new two day event, as not only is it a new experience for competitors, but it’s an exhilarating spectator experience.
“The family relay will be particularly fun and unique as we give our passionate audience of families the chance to compete together and against fellow families! As well as our mixed relay we have individual distances for everyone from beginners to elite triathletes.”
Triathletes competing in the Mixed Relay, as well as the individual events, will be helping to support local charity partner The NeuroMuscular Centre, a pioneering charity based in Winsford. The centre provides support and services for people affected by muscular dystrophy (MD). MD is a physical disability that causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue; and the charity’s services and support help to enable people with MD to expand and fulfil their potential regardless of their disability.
After competing, the triathletes and their families will be able to celebrate in the event village in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle, a private residence that is usually closed to the public. The event village will include performances from live bands, a climbing wall, archery, food stalls, bike support and more, providing ‘a festival atmosphere for competitors and people there to support them’.
There will be a nominal fee for spectators at Cholmondeley Castle to cover car parking and free entertainment (adults £5 / children £3).
www.castletriathlonseries.co.uk
