Record entries for return of Ironman
THIS YEAR MARKS THE FIRST FULL CAPACITY RACE SINCE BEFORE COVID
IT is just over five weeks until the seventh Ironman 70.3 triathlon race which will take place across Staffordshire and registration numbers are at an all-time high.
Close to 3,000 athletes from across the world will take the chance to push their limits in a gruelling 70.3mile swim, bike ride, and run event on June 12.
This year’s event marks the first full capacity race since 2019, following disruptions due to the covid pandemic, which led to the event being cancelled in 2020 and a smaller athlete field competing in 2021. Despite this, the appetite for the difficult triathlon has continued to grow, as this year’s event gets ready to welcome the largest athlete field in its history.
With a fast and flat course and non-open water swim, Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire is known for being firsttimer friendly, and this year is no different as the race is set to welcome a field of 58 per cent first time athletes, said a spokesman. Athletes will undertake a 1.2-mile reservoir swim at Chase-water Country Park before a meandering 56-mile bike ride course through the heart of the Staffordshire countryside, including through Yoxall and Hanbury in East Staffordshire, and Cannock Chase, before a 13.1-mile run alongside the River Sow and into Stafford town centre.
With the famous Staffordshire crowd support throughout the course, participants will race past Stafford Castle before finishing under the finish gantry in the town’s Market Square.
Last year’s event saw Hugh Brashaw and Lydia Dant take home titles, finishing respectively with times of 4:07:21 and 4:30:33.
Among the Staffordshire people competing will be Andy Stone, from
Eccleshall, a former alcoholic who will be attempting to break two Guinness World Records to raise money for addiction charities. The challenge will see him carry out 70 half-distance triathlons (the same distance as an Ironman event) in 70 days – culminating with Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire on the final day of his challenge.
Current event registrations show a 6.7 per cent increase from the 2019 edition, the last event to take place properly since the beginning of the pandemic, and a 4.4 per cent increase from 2015, which was the inaugural West Midlands race, said a spokesman.
And, with general registrations still open to the public, this is set to be a year to remember in Staffordshire. Rebecca Sutherland, race director for Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire, said: “Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire is our first race of the UK season and it’s inspiring to see record numbers registered to participate.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming back old and new athletes, and making that finish line feeling possible for even more participants at this year’s event.
“We’d like to thank Staffordshire County Council, Stafford Borough Council, and all the dedicated suppliers, staff, and volunteers that help make Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire a success year on year.”
So far, registered athletes will represent 55 different countries, with participants set to fly in from the likes of France, United States, Poland, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands amongst others to compete in Staffordshire.
And 173 Staffordshire-based athletes are also currently registered to race, with Stafford Triathlon Club sitting at the top of the Tri Club podium with 64 athletes.
Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said: “We’re pleased to see Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire return to the county this year and with more athletes than ever before.
“It means we can once again showcase Staffordshire to visitors from across the UK and the world. “