Loch Ness Hosts "Visit Scotland" Adventure Tri, Incorporating the 10km Great Trail Run.
Leading British international triathlete Richard Stannard will headline at the Loch Ness "Visit Scotland" Adventure Tri and Great Trail Run later this month.
Stannard, three time winner of the British Biathlon Championships and winner of the ITU World Aquathlon Championship in 2003 will not only take part in the gruelling event in Loch Ness on Saturday 23 July, but also in the other two legs of the Adventure Tri Series in Loch Lomond on 20 August and Falkirk on 2 October.
Richard said: "I’m looking forward to the challenge. The Adventure-tri is an interesting and challenging event and having seen the facilities and the terrain at Loch Ness it is an event that I intend to win. Last year I won at both Loch Lomond and at Celtic Manor in Wales. I understand the organisers have invited more international teams this year so not only will the courses be tough but so will be the competition on July 23rd."
The Adventure-tri series features a 1500m open water swim in Urquhart bay, 19KM mountain bike ride at Fort Augustus and 10k trail run in the evening from 6.15pm at Inverness starting and finishing at Queens Park Stadium.
The final element of the triathlon, the Great Trail Run is a 10k multi terrain run open to the general public and will be the highlight of the day long event.
Event director Colin Hill said: "The triathletes may be of international quality, but by the time they’ve swam 1500 metres and mountain biked nearly 20km they are nicely softened up for the regular runners to challenge them in the evening 10km run."
The event has gained world wide coverage when it was reported that event organisers had taken out a one million pound insurance policy against any ‘Nessie’ attacks during the swim event.
There will be a number of International teams competing from the four home nations including France & Italy.
The French team will be lead by Nicolas Le Brun, 7th in this years European Duathlon Championships and second in the team championships with the French squad, the squad also includes French junior triathlon champion for 2003/04 Aurelie Paul.
Nicolas said: "It will be a difficult event for myself and my team mates but we are looking forward to swimming in the famous Loch Ness."
The Adventure-tri is to covered for Channel 5 TV and is designed to appeal to the adventure athlete, the weekend warrior and the triathlete looking for that bit extra. The Trail Run is a fun 10km event and is open to any level of runner who would like to take part in a 10km multi terrain fun run. The run starts at 6.15pm right after the Inverness Highland Games.
Entries are still open for both the tri and run event and can be secured on line at www.greatrun.org or by ringing the event hotline on (0191) 2727033 during office hours for an entry form.
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