Charity is the winner at the Llanrwst Triathlon

Aug 28 2008 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

A GROUP of intrepid athletes will take part in a gruelling triathlon event this weekend to raise money for a children’s hospice.

Carneddau Triathlon Club, which has over 60 members, will be taking part in their third Llanrwst charity triathlon in aid of T Gobaith children’s hospice at Tal-y-Cafn.

The mammoth endurance race takes place this Sunday, beginning at Llanrwst swimming pool with a 400- metre swim followed by a 15-mile cycle up the Conwy Valley to Tal-y-Cafn and Ty’n-y-Groes, ending in a three-mile run through flat forestry trails near Gwydir Castle and the Marin Trail.

Club member Simon Roxburgh, 34, from Rhos-on-Sea, said the event is going to be bigger than ever.

“We even have a race goer from Patagonia wanting to take part and Revolution Bikes in Bangor are kindly lending a bike so they can,” he said.

“There are also competitors from Australia taking part in the triathlon. The first competitor will start at 8am so it’s a packed day for everyone involved. There are also 16 marshals helping out on the day making sure everything runs smoothly.”

So far 20 members of Carneddau Triathlon Club have volunteered to take part in the event at the weekend as well as Simon himself.

The triathlon, which is sponsored by several local businesses, has attracted around 200 competitors in total from far and wide. The Carneddau club has raised over £8,000 over the last couple of years taking part in the race and hope to exceed their expectations this year.

It is hoped the presentations will take place within an hour of the last competitor crossing the finishing line and depending on the weather it will take place in the community hall on Watling Street, Llanrwst.

There will be prizes for the first female and male competitors in the senior, veteran and super veteran age groups. There will also be a prize for the first female and male from the local area.

For more information go to www.carneddautriathlon.com

samantha.castle