Triathletes keep dry after algae at Ellesmere forces cancellation of swim event
Triathletes became duathletes this weekend after blue-green algae closed the waters to swimmers at one of Shropshire's most popular athletics fixtures.
Hundreds of competitors and spectators descended on Ellesmere this weekend for the start of the Shropshire Triathlon.
The event would usually see entrants swim in the mere before cycling on local roads and then run along a closed lane and through Cremorne Gardens.
But organisers of Sunday's Shropshire Triathlon were forced to cancel the swim section of the event after blue-green algae bloomed on the mere the day before the race.
Race director at UK Triathlon Events, Keith Hancock apologised to the 620 competitors who received notice of the cancelled swim on Saturday.
