Chiefs looking are to expand town's race
Shrewsbury Triathlon bosses want to expand the town's sprint triathlon and quadrathlon following the success of this year's event.
The fifth annual instalment of the popular multi-sport challenge, which was held at the County Showground, attracted another sold-out field of hundreds.
And events team member Sam Mountain said: "It was another good year and the event is getting more popular every year.
"We are limited to 350 people for the triathlon and quadrathlon by the police but it is selling out so much more quickly now than it used to.
"This year it was sold out six weeks before the cut off time which is no mean feat.
"It is getting very over-subscribed and I am going to try to see if they will let us increase the maximum number of entries by another 50 people for next year."
The event actually comprises of three separate challenges for athletes: the triathlon, the quadrathlon and the junior duathlon.
The triathlon event includes a 500m river swim in the River Severn followed by a 23km cycle out to Baschurch and back before a 5km run to finish.
The quadrathlon features all three of above as well as a 4.5km kayaking task, while the duathlon, for athletes aged 16 and below, includes two runs and a bike ride.
Black Country Triathlon's Christopher Wood won the men's triathlon, crossing the line in a superb time of one hour, two minutes, 30 seconds.
That impressive showing included a 6min 51sec swim, a 35min 46sec bike ride and an 18min 31sec run.
Stafford Triathlon's Jon Weavell finished in 1.03.53, while Jason Harland of Wrekin College Triathlon Club was the fastest Shropshire-based athlete back home, claiming third.
His effort of 1.04.27 included an 08.04 swim, a 36.38 bike ride and a 17.56 run.
Rob Kerr and Mark Griffiths were the first and second men home for the host club, finishing fifth and eighth overall.
Gill Mead, of Chester Triathlon Club, won the women's event in 1.09.42 ahead of Stafford Triathlon's Joanna Connelly, who came home in 1.12.07.
Lauren Turvey of Birmingham Rowheath Athletics Club was just behind her, claiming third after completing the course in 1.12.15.
Hereford's 2014 World Quadrathlon champion Steve King, who competes for NFTO Race, was the men's winner in the quadrathlon event.
His scorching time of 1.22.09 included a combined swim and kayak time of 26.47, a bike ride of 35.46 and a run of 18.33.
Adam Norfolk of Nottingham was almost two minutes behind for second place, crossing the line in 1.23.57, while Nigel Unwin (unattached) came home in 1.29.05.
Around 60 youngsters tackled the duathlon which was being run for the second straight year, with athletes tackling different distances depending on their age.
The TriStart category, for eight-year-olds, tackled a 400m run, a 700m ride and a 200m run while in TriStar one, for 9-10-year-olds, the distances were 1.2km, 1.6km and 400m.
TriStar Two, for 11-12 year-olds, spanned 1.6km, 3.2km and 600m while TriStar Three for 13-14 year-olds was contested over 2km, 4.8km and 800m.
The youth race for 15-16 year-olds was tackled over 3.2km, 6.4km and 1.8km.
Harry Brown (unattached) won the Tri-Start boys race in 7.37, while Shrewsbury's Finn Bowdler was second and Isaac Wareing came third.
Bethany Trow was the Tri-Start girls winner, crossing the line in 8.42 ahead of Shrewsbury's Lillie Dean, second, and Eva Rowlands, third.
Ieuan Williams, from Shrewsbury Triathlon, was the TriStar One boys' winner while Amy Harland, from Wrekin College Triathlon Club was the winner in the girls' category.
Maldwyn Harriers' Connor Owen won the Tri-Star Two boys event while Olivia Brown was the girls winner. Ben Delafield, from Shrewsbury Triathlon, was the Tri-Star three winner.
In the girls' youth race, Helen Lancaster of Ludlow Junior Triathlon Club was champion and Black Country Triathlon athlete James Butler took the boys' youth title.
The event attracted athletes from all around the country as well as two from as far away as Australia.
Debbie Heap, who is originally from Manchester, and her friend Becky Lewis both represented Illawarra Triathlon Club.
Lewis was the fifth fastest woman home and fourth in her category while Heap was 11th and second in the women's 50-and-over division.
Next year's event will take place at the same venue on September 4.
