On Wednesday 15 September 2021, hundreds of army, navy and RAF men and women descended on sleepy Cotswold villages near Tetbury. It was an invasion, but not the sort you’d normally associate with the armed forces. Sure, they were here for battle, but wetsuits, Lycra and bikes were their weapons of choice. They were here for the Inter-Services Triathlon.
“We deliver about nine events a year for military-only personnel,” says Stuart Irving, secretary of the Army Triathlon Association (ATA) and the man responsible for organising the race today. As with a lot of things, the race didn’t manage to go ahead last year due to the pandemic, and this year things have gone a little differently. Normally, the athletes in each service’s elite squads would battle it out for honours, but this year the organisers decided to bring everyone together for one big showdown.
The result is 220 confirmed entrants as opposed to the 85 that would normally compete, but even that is just scratching the surface of how popular triathlon is within the armed forces.
“Two years ago we had 261 members,” Irving explains. “Since then we’ve expanded and now have over 720 members. We’re the biggest collective triathlon club in the country.”
Among its members are people with varying skillsets and experience, from beginners to Team GB age-groupers and even pro athlete Kat Matthews, who wasn’t racing here due to her involvement in the 70.3 Worlds.
A NATURAL FIT
Meanwhile, the RAF Triathlon Association is roughly 550 members strong, including Dave Ellis’ paratri guide, Luke Pollard (who also wasn’t racing today).
This story is from the January 2022 edition of 220 Triathlon.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2022 edition of 220 Triathlon.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BAPTISM OF FIRE
Eager to get a taste for multisport, Ben Clement takes on the duathlon at Xterra Matterley in Hampshire and discovers it's far from a walk in a park...
SWIMMING'S GREATEST INNOVATION
FORM’S NEWSMART, SWIM 2 GOGGLES PROJECT YOUR ACCURATE!} HEART RATE ONTO THE. GSGELE. LENS FOR ON-THE-FLY FEEDBACK, IT’SSET TO TRANSFORM THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL EEVELS OF TRIATHLETE. WE SHOW YOU HOW..;
ON TEST TRIATHLON BAGS
In need of a pack to keep all of your kit organised on race day? We put seven options to the test
TRIATHLON WETSUITS UNDER £400
On a budget? Then there are some great wetsuits out there, starting at a little over £100. Here's our pick...
LONG DISTANCE RACES FOR LESS
Struggling to stomach the cost of a full or middle-distance tri? These picks will test you physically and mentally, without being as painful on your pocket...
HOW TO CONQUER SWIMMING IN THE SEA
The sea is nature's greatest swimming pool - and features in many of the world's best triathlons. But if you're new to oceanic adventures, it can be daunting. Here's how to feel at home...
THE POWER OF RESILIENCE
Georgia Taylor-Brown is one of Great Britain's finest triathletes whose strength of spirit has seen her overcome a litany of injuries and personal issues that would end the careers of most. And, as Adam Leitch finds out, just making the 2024 Olympic team would be her biggest victory to date..
QUINTANA ROO V-PRI
QUINTANA ROO’S BACK WITH AN UPGRADE ON ITS V-PR. ON THE FACE OF IT, IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE, BUT YOULL NEED DEEP POCKETS...
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Hugo Milner may be fairly new to the sport of triathlon, but he's already one of Britain's brightest prospects in years. In fact, he's that good he even has an outside chance of heading to Paris...
"I DON'T LET THE STROKE AFFECT MY DECISION TO RACE"
In 2022, personal trainer Richard Higgins, 33, suffered a stroke two months before Celtman, but he refuses to waste any energy thinking about it...