Sprint Triathlons in Yorkshire and the Humber

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2017

  This Triathlon is a hilly course so if you like running and cycling uphill then this is the route for you. For the entry fee you get a t-shirt and that's it, no goodie bag upon completion, no medal, no gels on drink station, just a t-shirt. The security on the transition was extremely relaxed. I walked into transition with my bike and not stopped and checked and walked in and out 3 times before my swim and wasn't stopped once. I saw Non competitors strolling around transition chatting. Anyone could of walked in and helped themselves. My wife actually saw a women competitor walking into transition with the number on the shirt not matching the one on the bike ?? I was glad my wife was there as i wouldn't if felt comfortable leaving my bike while i was out running. The route from pool to transition was carpeted which was good, the bike route was hilly and temp filter lanes for cyclist were in place at junctions which help massively. There wasn't a lot of direction signs so i was glad i could see other riders in front to track my way. The run was up quite a long and very steep road. I'm not a brilliant runner and found this very difficult. It was STEEP. The locals were fantastic and really supported all the entrants. They really made the event for me. The Marshall's around the run route were also really friendly and encouraging. Would I do this again ? No i wouldn't. I think for the money you would expect a medal and finishers bag and gels on drinks stations.

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• R

  Did the event in 2016

  First let me say that I'm not a complainy person, and I was enjoying the event. Well organised registration, transition, etc. All the competitors were very friendly as well. Real family atmosphere. It was all going so well until about half way through the cycle when there was a well sign posted left turm at the bottom of a (another) hill. The marshall told me to go left, which I did, but then at a crossroads, there were no signs and the marshall was not interested in telling me the way. This meant that I carried straight on assuming that if I was supposed to trun left, I would have been advised by the marshall or some signage. I know marshals are voluteers, but the lady didn't seem particualry interested. Itw as not busty, as I was first there and no one directly behind me. It could have been such a good event for me, but it was let done by the signage and one or two marshals who didnt seem too interested in giving out information. Had to be praised out of them. Going wildy off track put a real dampener on the event for me. I dont know the area, so I rely on the marshals and signs.  Room for improvement. May come back next year, but haven't decided 100% yet.

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• R

  Did the event in 2016

  This pool-start triathlon was a great early season sprint course. Transition was well marshalled and signed, leading you from the pool to T1. Then out to face a very hilly 20K. Taking in three climbs up to scenic views across the Peaks valleys around Saddleworth. Following T2 it's a straight up and down climb over a very steep hill really taking the last out of your legs, before running as fast as possible down hill to the finish line. This was a well organised and marshalled race, providing a tough workout at the start of the season.

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From the organiser

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  I've been lucky enough to take part in this event for 3 years running. 1st year 2016 was one of my first sprint triathlons and then i did the standard tri. Someone at my cycling club once said "if you're paying the money you may as well get your monies worth and do a longer distance!" Its about 95 quid to enter.2016 wasn't great from a logistics POV however, the last 2 years have been brilliant as they changed the route and made it one transition zone (previously been 2 transition zones). It helps that we live over the road from the lake (so it'd be rude not to be part of the event really).  The junior events takes place on the Saturday morning which are hugely inspiring to watch and then you can register from approx 2pm in Roundhay Park. Oakwood and Roundhay have loads of cafe's and nice pubs and the park itself is lovely to wander round with 2 lakes, a Manor House, lakeside cafe and playground for the kids.The event:The familiarisation swim is worthwhile doing which takes place in the afternoon of Saturday. You need to register first so that you have your wrist band as proof of entry and leave a bag, clothes etc in a secure (ish) by the lake.  You can set up in the transition zone up until approx 7pm on Saturday once you've registered but can revisit the transition zone in the morning to leave anything else, drop stuff off etc. Its busy first thing in the morning and limited toilets so make sure you give yourself enough time before you need to get to swim start.  The event itself starts early approx 7am and has a great buzz about it. You line up in 20 mins before your swim start time wearing your coloured swim caps and have a briefing. The swim is a lovely course and then a 400metre run up to transition. 200m run from transition to bike mount line and you start on a hill (so get your gears in a low gear to start ;) closed roads make it easy to overtake people on bike. 2 laps of course for standard distance. Back into transition and run takes you up a hill out of the park (which is tough on wobbly legs). First 1.5 miles up hill or slight incline but then down hill into the city. Great support when you are in the city centre and a few loops round with water stations if required.  Buses back up to roundhay park are easy to find and free for participants with a small charge for spectators.Fully recommend this event and if you don't want to go back into the city to watch the professionals in the afternoon, then staying in roundhay park and watching the pros do the swim and the rest of the event on the big screens is a great alternative.One for bucket list ;)

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• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Roundhay Park is a great venue for the start and transitions for this event, great surroundings and a nice lake for the swim.The ride is not too challenging, but lacks a bit in scenery with it being in the city... Although that probably becomes irrelevant when you're concentrating on getting a PB! Is does also make for lots of spectators on the route and a good vibe.Similarly the run goes through one of the less salubrious parts of the city but it is fast, and once out of the park is mostly a good downhill.Finishing in the city centre is a buzz... two laps with massive crowds is guaranteed to get you moving!Lacking in events for spectators at Roundhay though, and getting from any vantage point to the finish is a nightmare.

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• R

  Did the event in 2018

  I did this event in 2018 as it was meant to be my "A-Race" of the season in a big, well supported major event, however injury meant that wouldnt be the case, however i was overall fairly impressed by this event!I had previously read reviews about this event and had reservations over previous poor organisation in years gone by, but this has clearly been rectified as the whole event weekend was superbly organised - well sign posted car parking at roundhay park (which is free and plentiful) well organised registration, bike transition area, and the event village was vibrant with atmosphere. Shuttle buses on race day where very fruqent and made it easy to get to and from roundhay to the city centre for both me and my wife, faultless and very professional from the organisers there.The race - Swim - like others, i was unimpressed with the decision to reduce the swim to 750m due to fog, come on.....the visability wasnt that bad! A mistake by the race directors in mine and many others opinion. Anyhow, the swims where placed into waves depending on age groups so mass starts. Water quality was good. I did the swim in 16:01 which im happy with as im a rubbish swimmer.Transition from Swim to Bike is very long, approx 400m slightly uphill too, but it is fully carpeted. My bigger grip is transition to the bike start line - you have to run with you bike to the far corner of the large transition area, come back on yourself and run for what seems a lifetime, uphill too, before you can start your bike ride. This is my biggest criticism of the route, if like me you arent a Brownlee esk or an AG'er and your running along in your cycle shoes, it has calf strain written all over it!Bike - after you finally get out of your bike, you start with a deceptively little harsh climb out of roundhay! Its 2 laps of a closed road course. I liked this route, there are some super fast straight downhill sections with power bends, but you have to return back up the same sections, however for me this route finely hits the right mix of fast and challenging sections to get a good time. It has about 50ft of climb per mile so it is hitting the undulating category. I was happy with my performance, going around at 19.2mph average pace.However when you return back to roundhay park, you are faced again with a ridicolous distance to run from dismount line to transition.The Run - unfortunately for me, a calf issue i had been nursing flared up immediately upon running up a steep hill immediately out of transition - sadly i think this was aided and abetted by the long transition runs in cycling shoes.Anyhow i knew a fast run for me was gone so i just wanted to enjoy the run now, you start off going through some nice quiet housing areas, but there are a few rolling hills before going downhill towards the city centre. Disappointingly, there was no local support before you hit the centre, and a lack of water and feed stations IMO too. When you hit leeds centre, be prepared.....it aint bloody flat!!! And in my case this caused me to essentially limp up these hills due to the calf strain.Fairly reasonable crowds in the centre considering it was early doors, you do a couple of loops around the centre before coming into the finishing area, hitting the blue carpet and grandstand finish! I finished the run at 7:38 minute per mile pace, which i was happy with given the calf issue. Afterwards you recieved a nice medal and finishers t-shirt.Overall, i enjoyed this event, and i will return in 2019 hopefully fully fit

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Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  This isn’t the first time I have raced Woodhall or with OSB but will continue to do their races as they are well organised and set out. As im local registration was easy the day before and once i arrive on the day the event was already underway. Transition was secure and well marshalled so you knew where you were going. The bike route was well signed and had Marshall’s at most turns that needed them. The run was the same with the benefit of water stations.Overall a great day and a PB to boot. Well done OSB and see you next year.

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• R

  Did the event in 2017

  I raced Woodhall Spa Triathlon for the last 3 years, its a friendly event and nice venue. Registration was easy, only negative was they ran out of wrist bands for entry to transition so has to use marker pen which rubbed off on all my kit :( Check in to transition was good and well marshalled. Everything was run on time and organised. swim was ran well, bike course is nice and goes through a few local villages which is nice. This year they charged for the car park so people tried to avoid this by parking down both side on the single track run course and when cars were driving down the road it got blocked up. You had to walk on occasion as the run course was blocked and there was nowhere to go. This needs sorting next year as it effects your race and isn't fair. Putting cones or something along the road to stop people parking there, car park was only £2, people should stop being so selfish. Finish was good and finish commentary was fab all day. Would be nice to have some food or something more after the finish like at other events. Prizes for age group winners and overall winners would be nice as well, this was only stopped this year as last year they gave out vouchers.

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• R

  Did the event in 2017

  Another good event put on by OSB events, even in the sweltering weather! Glad they added another water station on the run as it was definitely needed.Easy navigation for the whole race with lots of signs on the bike & run courses, sone marshalls (probably could have done with a few more) and great local support with some bringing out hose pipes to cool us down on the run which was very much appreciated! Bit disappointed with the lack of prizes for category winners and sprint series winners - at least last year we got some TFN vouchers - nothing at all this year.Overall a well organised race but could do with a few more finishing touches to bring it up to the high standards set by other races (Deva!!!).

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From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Freebird is a company I’ve learned to trust over the last few years. This years Sundowner Sprint did not disappoint with a fast course, friendly atmosphere and smooth registration process.Negatives of the course and organisation today were the racking system (numbers all over the place with no apparent sense of order bolstered by a security guard telling competitors to look for their number or put it anywhere) and the very narrow exit and entry points between the incoming bike point and runners exit onto the road as both were forced onto the far side this year.Positives- far outweigh the negatives! A beautiful course with a real family atmosphere and clean cut attitude. No room for ego’s here, rack, race and stay to watch the Middle distance or go home. The swim happens with minimal fuss as the phases are spread well, the bike has clear open, rural roads which allows for movement through the pack and the run occurs on an out and back which ensures that competitiors are all in close range to each other and a supportive environment is maintained.Overall, a great event for competitiors and spectators alike, once again, Freebird do not disappoint and provide a very slick organisation to events.

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• R

  Did the event in 2016

  Everything you look for in a local race!Great organisation; enthusiatic volunteers and organisers; good, quick course; plenty of marshalls and set in a nice location.Expect to return at some point.Oh and free photos that were of very good quality!

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From the organiser

From the organiser

Reviews

• A

  Andy D

  Did the Sprint & Sprint Relay in 2018

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Its my 3rd York triathlon and I love this small friendly event. Its all held within York University campus which makes it a great event for your 'support crew' to come and watch and see you lots of times on the bike and run. This is also a great benefit to the person racing too as gives you a great boost every time you go past your cheering fans!The swim is 16 lengths of 25m pool and you swim 4 lengths in each of the 4 lanes set up. You have to duck under the rope to get into the next lane which sounds weird but it works fine! The lanes are really wide so you can easily pass people if required. There's a short run down into the transition zone and up a slight slope to bike mount line.The bike route changed this year and the course took you around some of the University buildings with a few bends to navigate which adds to the technicality of the route. It was 6 laps around the bike route and you count them yourself so make sure you don't too many! The great thing is that its a closed road event so no cars to get in your way. Marshalls are good around the route.  I did get behind a few cyclists that I couldn't get past straight away on a few occasions but that was just on the tighter parts of the course.The run route is 5k (3 laps) around a concrete cycle track. I'm not normally a fan of running laps but it does mean you get loads of support and you have people as targets to pass if you're competitive like me!!Changing facilities are good but limited toilets. There is a cafe on sight too.You receive a lovely medal and t shirt :)

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• R

  Did the event in 2018

  This was my forth York Triathlon and the best yet! July timing is great, swim, transitions, bike and run all work well. Really liked the new bike course - much more interesting and challenging than just out and back, and it seemed to keep some of the almost constant wind across the campus at bay. Hopefully the main bike route will get properly replaced in time, but still makes it an interesting challenge to ride! The two marshalls at the turn near transition were brilliant and shouted encouragment at everyone - was suprised not to see someone at the hairpin at the other end of the course though. As someone points out below - the timings need work - no T1 this year, no T2 last year, no transitions at all the year before....

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