Today, a record-breaking 1,900 participants, including international elite triathletes and paratriathletes, amateurs and first timers, took to the iconic city centre course to swim, cycle and run at this year’s Tri Liverpool.
Spectators lined the streets, with over 4,000 local people on the side lines supporting their family and friends, and giving many of the paratriathletes who will be racing in Brazil an inspiring send off.
It was an early rise for the paratriathletes who kicked off the day with their 7am start time, racing the sprint distance triathlon across multiple classifications. Paratriathletes swam 750m, cycled 20km using hand cycles, bikes or tandem bikes with a guide, followed by a 5km wheelchair or running race.
This year’s Tri Liverpool was particularly important for the paratriathletes who competed for the last time on home soil before heading off to Brazil to participate in the inaugural paratriathlon at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Paratriathletes included Lauren Steadman PT4 who took part in the Paralympics as a swimmer in 2008 and 2012 and 2004 Paralympian David Hill who competes in the PT5 category.
Lauren Steadman who raced in the PT4 category says:
"I had a very good race for me today. I had the one goal of making myself feel more confident and having a better race than the World Championships this year. I led from beginning to end, had a good swim, a strong bike and held on for the run. It was the sort of race I was hoping to have today. I wanted to get good confidence and post some good splits a few weeks before Rio. I’ve still got a little bit of work to do, there’s a little bit of speed to come through but after today everything is on track.”
Amateur triathletes were next to complete the longer standard course comprising of 1500m swim, 40km cycle past some of Liverpool's most iconic waterfront landmarks and complete a final 10km run to the finish. The standard distance event had extra prestige as Home Nation members had the chance to compete for British Age-Group titles. Triathletes aiming for qualification to the Great Britain Age-Group Team also had the opportunity to book their place at the 2017 ETU Standard Distance Triathlon European Championships.
A few famous faces on the course included Hollyoaks actor Jared Garfield who plays Nathan Nightingale, his fellow cast mate Karl Collins (Louis Loveday), and former Big Brother winner and DIY expert Craig Philips.
BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin, joined in the special This Girl Can Sprint Distance women's wave, completing the Tri Liverpool course for the second year running. Louise took up triathlon three years ago and has enjoyed great success in her age-group, having competed in the ITU World Championships in Chicago last year and ETU European Champions in Lisbon this May. Louise says:
“This year the crowds were fantastic and I am so lucky because I get cheered on from one bit of crowd to another, it really is fabulous and encouraging too. It’s great there are all these people trying triathlon for the first time, there is some real camaraderie out there on the course.”
Great Britain and international triathlon elites included last year’s winner Morgan Davies, twin brothers Tom and David Bishop, and Adam Bowden who has taken part in six of the seven ITU World Triathlon Series races this year. The elite men’s race saw Adam Bowden come in first in a time of 54.58, with Ben Dijkstra second (55.18), and Thomas Bishop (55.23) took third place.
In the women’s field, Sophie Coldwell made a return to the city to defend her title won in 2015. There was stiff competition with a strong international field including another former winner, Charlotte McShane from Australia.
In the end, Charlotte McShane took first place with a time of 1.01.41, Jessica Learmonth (1.01.44) second and Heather Sellars (1.02.02) third.
British Elite Triathlon Champion, Adam Bowden said:
"I’m really over the moon and to race the British race was what I wanted to do the whole year really and it’s nice to be on British soil and get a British title at the same time."
First time triathletes took part in the GO TRI+ Beginner distance, swimming 400m, cycling 10km and running 2.5km. GO TRI training sessions are available in four of Liverpool City Council’s Lifestyles centres, and have supported many of the first time triathletes to become more confident in each of the elements.
If you are inspired by Tri Liverpool, you can take the first step to getting into triathlon today by creating a triathlon that fits your life. Just visit www.gotri.org/yourgotri and select which swim, bike or run you would like to do – these could include 'cycle to work', 'jog around the block' or 'walk to the shops'. Tri it your way!
Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for culture, Councillor Wendy Simon said: “It has been a fantastic day and it is great to see so many people getting actively involved in sport in Liverpool. Tri Liverpool is now firmly established as an annual sporting fixture in the city and it is part of our commitment to hold high profile events which are popular with both participants and spectators.”
If you would like to catch up on all of the Tri Liverpool’s best moments, highlights will be broadcast by Channel 4 on August 27, 2016.
Tri Liverpool is delivered by British Triathlon in partnership with Liverpool City Council. For more information, results and official race pictures of Tri Liverpool 2016, visit www.TriLiverpool.com
Provisional Results
Elite men (British Elite Sprint Triathlon Championships)
1 – Adam Bowden, 54.58
2 – Ben Djikstra, 55.18
3 – Thomas Bishop, 55.23
Elite women (British Elite Sprint Triathlon Championships)
1 – Charlotte McShane, 1.01.41 (Not eligible for British Title)
2 – Jessica Learmonth, 1.01.44
3 – Heather Sellars, 1.02.02
6 – Olivia Mathias, 1.02.45 (3rd Brit)
Junior men (British Junior Super Series)
1 – Ben Djikstra – 55:18
2 – Alex Yee, Crystal Palace Triathletes – 56:04
3 – Jack Willis, Leeds Triathlon Centre – 56:07
Junior women (British Junior Super Series)
1 – Olivia Mathias, Loughborough Triathlon – 1:02:45
2 – Kate Waugh, Ryton Tri – 1:02:57
3 – Sian Rainsley, Leeds Triathlon – 1:03:01
Youth men (British Youth Super Series)
1 – James Chantler Mayne – 33:09
2 – Daniel Slater, North West Regional Academy – 33:20
3 – Matthew Willis, North West Regional Academy – 33:26
Youth women (British Youth Super Series)
1 – Erin Wallace, Fusion Triathlon Club – 36:59
2 – Abbie Williams, Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club – 37:15
3 – Ellie Hobbs, South West Regional Academy – 37:19
For full results of all Tri Liverpool races, please click here.
