New route won’t stop Llanrwst triathletes

Sep 2 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

OVER two hundred competitors will be descending on the market town of Llanrwst this Sunday, September 5, to take part in the annual Llanrwst Sprint Triathlon, organised by Carneddau Triathlon Club.

Athletes, professional and amateur, will challenge themselves over a gruelling 400m pool swim, 30km bike route- starting in Llanrwst, and run through the Conwy Valley villages of Trefriw, Dolgarrog, Tal-y-Bont and Tyn-y-Groes before turning around at the Groes Inn to return by the same route and then over a demanding 5km out and back run into the Gwydir Forest.

“The race almost didn’t go ahead this year,” explained Simon Roxburgh of Carneddau Triathlon Club.

“The race organising committee, made up from members of Carneddau Triathlon Club, had to look at the very real possibility of cancelling the event this year due to major roadworks on the A470, north of Llanrwst. Fortunately a new route was devised, which was risk assessed and approved meaning that the event could go ahead.

“To accommodate the route change, after the 400m swim competitors will have to run over Llanrwst Bridge to get their bikes at Gwydir Park.”

The Llanrwst Sprint Triathlon was originally held back in the early 1990’s, but fell by the wayside until 2006, when members of the newly reformed Carneddau Triathlon Club reintroduced the event, and it’s been a hit ever since, helping raise in excess of £20,000 for Ty Gobaith children’s Hospice.

Over the last five years competitors have travelled from as far as Argentina and Australia to race, whilst tri-athletes from all corners of the UK are attracted by the promise of a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and the chance to race in such a beautiful area.

Chairman of Carneddau Triathlon Club, Emyr Evans, said: “As a club we are immensely proud of the Llanrwst Sprint Triathlon. The feedback we get back from competitors is always extremely positive, they love Llanrwst and the Conwy Valley and many comment on the fantastic atmosphere of the race, which I feel is down to, not just the race day team but also the people of the town.

“We also try and make the Llanrwst Sprint Triathlon as novice-friendly as possible, and for many people the Llanrwst Sprint serves as their first step into the world of triathlon.”

The Llanrwst Sprint Triathlon also plays host to the North Wales Police Triathlon Championship and competition is always fierce between North Wales’ officers eager to be crowned the quickest.

Roy Healy, the race organiser for 2010, can’t wait for race day. He said: “The race will start at 8am and finish around 1pm, with prize giving at the Community Centre on Watling Street no later than 2pm. If people want to come and support, we’d love to see them either out on the course, by the finish in Gwydir Park or even at the prize giving. ”

samantha.castle