<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Tri247</title><link>http://www.tri247.com/index.html</link><description>Latest articles from Tri247</description><item><title><![CDATA[Point7 re-launch Grantham Triathlon]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9603.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Grantham Triathlon has been brought back to life after it has been missing from the race calendar since 2009.

The event is ideal for novices and sprint distance enthusiasts and starts with a 16-length 400m swim in the heated, indoor &#039;The Meres&#039; 25m pool. It&#039;s then out onto the bike for a 18km two-lap cycle on local quiet roads with the route heading towards Barrowby and Harlaxton before returning to The Meres Leisure Centre. Competitors climb off their bikes and embark on a 5km run around the paths encircling the sports stadium. Entries and more information can be found here. The event is perfect for a early season test as it&#039;s on April 29th.

Point 7 Sports Ltd was founded by four original members of the hugely successful multi-sport club Lincsquad. The team has over twenty years of combined experience in sport events management and having already established a number of legendary events in North Lincolnshire are looking to develop more sporting events for the future working with various partners.

All the team still compete in various single discipline and multi-sport events and know first-hand what it takes to make an event fun and successful while establishing an environment and framework that promotes safety for both competitors and spectators.

The team comprises; Paul Carvill &ndash; Managing Director, Phil Binch &ndash; Finance Director, Andy Veitch &ndash; Operations Director and Steve Clark &ndash; Sales Director.

]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Horseman Extreme: are you tough enough?!]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9602.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[We recently put together our mammoth look at new events in 2012, highlighting some of the most interesting new additions to the racing calendar that have caught our eye this year, by region.

It appears that we already have a new addition for 2013 making an early pitch for its inclusion in that article this time next year. It also leaves us thinking; if triathlon is the new golf, and Ironman is the new marathon... is &#039;extreme&#039; the new normal? Welcome to the Horseman Extreme Triathlon.

Alongside Celtman!, Norseman and others, MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra...) has never had it so good!



Endurancelife have forged a strong reputation for hosting tough challenges in inspiring locations and the Horseman Extreme Triathlon is no exception!



The Horseman Extreme Triathlon will be a welcome addition to the world&#039;s toughest and most spectacular long distance triathlon races. This epic event will take place for the first time on the 14th September 2013 against the stunning backdrop of Dartmoor National Park in  Devon.

Dartmoor is an area of outstanding  natural beauty covering 400 square miles, and is the biggest and wildest area  of open country in southern England. It was one of the first National Parks to  be designated in Britain in 1951.

The recent blockbuster movie &#039;War Horse&#039; was filmed on location on the moor. The director, Steven Spielberg,  said: &amp;quot;There&#039;s no place like it in the world&amp;hellip;I have never before, in my  long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor&amp;rdquo;.

Endurancelife director Andrew Barker  said: &amp;ldquo;If you&#039;re a triathlete seeking a flat course to clock your personal best  then this event is not for you. If, however, you thrive on challenge and adventure and want a memorable experience in a truly inspiring location then  this is going to be irresistible. Anyone who has spent time on Dartmoor will know how challenging both the terrain and weather can be and this is very much  part of the attraction. The Horseman Extreme Triathlon has been designed to  inspire and ignite the adventurous spirit in every triathlete. The Horseman Xtreme Triathlon (HXTRI) is guaranteed to be an epic adventure from start to  finish.&amp;rdquo;

For those intrigued by the choice of  name for the challenge, please visit the event website to discover why!

Distances 

Swim 3.8km lake swim (Roadford)
Bike 180km road bike with 3700 meters + of climbing
Run 42km mixed terrain run
Total distance  226km


Booking  is now live and the places are filling fast. Book now to take advantage of the  early bird entry fee.

More information www.hxtri.com or ring the organisers on 01548 853524.

Stay up to date on Facebook www.facebook.com/hxtri]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICAN Marbella hits 1200 entries]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9601.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Nearly 1,200 athletes have registered for ICAN Marbella on April 15th, tripling the number that took part in the first running of the race. Racing will be over two distances; the ICAN Half covers a half-ironman (1.9k, 90k, 21k) while the ICAN62 offers the same swim but with a 50k bike and 10k run.

The organisers have also issued an economic impact for the event estimating that it will bring in over 1.5m Euros in tourism, with the average stay expected to be three nights for two people. Sunil Bhardwaj, CEO of ICAN Triathlon said, &quot;We are proud of what we have achieved but also realise we have a very important responsibility to athletes enrolled in Marbella. Our only goal is to continue working to offer the best to the participants and their families before, during and after the race.&quot;

ICAN acknowledge the invaluable assistance and collaboration of the Fuerte Hoteles chain, the City of Marbella, Nutrixxion company and the other partners and sponsors that have enabled Marbella ICAN 2012 to become a reality.
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Charterhouse launch triathlon camp]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9599.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[This year will see the launch of Charterhouse Triathlon Camps which have been designed to cater for anyone who is contemplating their first triathlon or perhaps looking to improve technique after their first competition. The first camp will take place on 31st March &ndash; 1st April 2012 using the fabulous facilities at Charterhouse School which is set in over 200 acres of Surrey countryside.

At the camp you will have the opportunity to talk and learn from running experts Saucony and other experienced athletes including UK professional Sam Gardner to gain valuable tips and advice. Experienced trainers will be on hand to take you through the five key disciplines in triathlon to ensure you are able to maximise your achievements in each area. The camp will cover all aspects of triathlon competition as well as transitions, bike set up and maintenance, and the importance of nutrition.

As a well-established Health and Fitness Club supporting athletes from beginners to Olympians, we have the right people, the right facilities and the right environment to help new triathletes achieve their goal.

Sam Gardner says, &quot;Triathlons are a mix of disciplines where you will transition from wet-suited swimmer to cyclist to runner and each discipline has its own training and techniques that you will need to master. They say &#039;practice makes perfect&#039;, but do you know how and what to practice? We will make sure you get the most out of the camp in preparation for your first triathlon&quot;.

To attend the camp you should have a basic level of fitness and swimming ability to:


	Swim &gt; 50m crawl unaided
	Run &gt;1500m
	Can cycle and have your own bike (preferably a road bike)


If you would like to register you place at the camp or find out more details about what you can expect at the Charterhouse Triathlon Camp 2012 visit our web site at www.charterhousetriathlon.co.uk or you can contact Karen Ramsden at Charterhouse, Godalming, Surrey GU2 7RX or phone 01483 291763. Her e-mail is events@charterhouse.org.uk
￼￼￼]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Review: 2XU Xform thermal compression]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9574.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[There&#039;s little danger of Jenny, our regular Ironman athlete, ever being mistaken for an extra from Tron (sorry Andy...) but she&#039;s long been a fan of compression gear. Trouble is, in winter it tends to be a bit on the chilly side so what would she make of the 2XU thermal range?



As a user (and lover) of merino wool socks and baselayers I have to confess that I did wonder just how warm 2XU&#039;s new thermal compression top and tights were going to be. Made from 80% nylon and 20% lycra, the tights come from the Xform range which is designed for active use and recovery. I have to say that they are the best fitting and most comfortable compression tights that I&#039;ve tried so far. The fit is definitely an improvement over the previous Elite model - it&#039;s longer in the leg to start with, which is the way I like them - and although they are described as thermal you don&#039;t cook while exercising.

The long-sleeved top is great to wear on a cold run and works well on the bike too. It&#039;s not warm enough for me (but I feel the cold really badly) and I&#039;m tending to wear a second thermal layer on top of it at the moment to get the extra insulation under my regular bike top but others may find it&#039;s plenty warm enough. The compression fit makes it snug and comfortable as the bottom layer - it just doesn&#039;t seem to work if you put a thermal baselayer underneath.

So until the weather warms up quite a bit these two are definitely on top of the kit pile and it will be interesting to see if the rest of the new PXR compression range lives up to the promise of these items.

I&#039;ve also been trying out the recovery stockings which are an absolute must for anyone training hard and needing to recover for the next day. Much less compressive than a conventional compression racing sock and covering both upper and lower leg, unlike a calf guard, they can be worn under regular jeans or even leggings to get in that recovery benefit while you&#039;re at work and nobody need ever know.

Thanks to Mike Martin for sorting out the kit for us: the Xform thermal tights are &pound;95, the Xform long sleeve thermal top is &pound;85 and the Refresh stockings are &pound;40.
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weekend preview]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9595.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[

We have the distinct feeling that things might be a bit chilly this weekend. And with a trio of off-road events planned there&#039;s more likely to be snow on the ground than mud... Nice!

The weekend opens with the fourth race in the Asics Off-Road Series, the TuffMan, taking place at Pippingford Park near East Grinstead where there&#039;s an 8k trail run and a full-on 8k, 13k, 4k off-road duathlon through the woods. After Richard Stannard&#039;s second place at the WildMan he&#039;ll be looking to regain control of the leaderboard while Kate 
Robson&#039;s dominance of the women&#039;s races to date will face it&#039;s toughest challenge yet as the course is more XC style than the first three.

Also going off-road on Saturday is the Mud N Madness 7.5k run at Stubbers Adventure Centre near Upminster but the second of the Edinburgh RC Winter Duathlon series is definitely tarmac-based (although that might be snowy too!).

Sunday brings us the choice of two distances in Votwo&#039;s USN Dorney Duathlon which, as the name suggests, is based at Dorney Lake. Online entry is available at for the races at www.votwoevents.co.uk up until 1300hrs on Friday or you can enter on the day at the venue.

The first of Exeter Tri&#039;s Earlybird Aquathlon Series is set to take place at Dawlish Leisure Centre while for those seeking the less comfortable option there&#039;s the Wadenhoe Quadmire Duathlon which is decidedly off-road and also offers the option of a quad for anyone fancying a quick kayak.

Overseas there&#039;s action in the southern hemisphere with Briatin&#039;s Liz Blatchford taking part in the Gatorade Queensland Tri Series at Caloundra where Australian eyes will be on Emma Jackson who&#039;s looking to make her mark as part of her campaign to secure a place on the Australian London 2012 squad.

FULL WEEKEND RACE LISTINGS
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Suka Sports sponsor Crystal Palace Triathlon]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9598.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[As part of their sponsorship of this year&#039;s Crystal Palace Triathlon, Suka Sports are offering an online discount of 10% on their whole online range, plus free UK delivery.

Visit their website and use the code Crystal2012 at checkout.

Happy shopping!

Suka SportSuka Sport is an independent specialist sports boutique located on Beak Street in central London, providing the highest spec clothing, tailored to fit you, your style and your sport.

The ever popular Crystal Palace Sprint Triathlon sold out in under two days, with a waiting list of 100 also full. There are still a few places in the TriStart and Youth categories.
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rugby legend Rory Underwood signs up for Liverpool Triathlon]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9597.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Former English Rugby Union footballer, Rory Underwood has announced that he will be taking part in this year&rsquo;s Liverpool Triathlon. Famous as one of the greatest wings in rugby history, Underwood will be tackling the sprint distance at the event on 1st July 2012, in an attempt to beat the time that he did at the same event last year.

He will be joined by 1500 other athletes from all over the world, and will compete alongside a great range of abilities &ndash; from the novice, excited to complete their first race, right up to the competitive pros and age groupers after a ranking in the prestigious global 5150 series. Liverpool joins the likes of New York, Miami and Zurich as one of the top races for age group athletes and the top age groupers will have the chance to qualify for the Hy-Vee 5150 Championships in Des Moines USA. And the athletes have plenty of races to choose from too, as Liverpool will be hosting a number of race distances. The 5150 distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run) generally attracts the largest numbers, although there is also the option to race a Sprint (750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run) or SuperSprint (400m swim, 10km bike and 2.5km run). Those that are daunted by taking part in all three disciplines need not worry, as team relay places are available for those who want to ease more gently into the sport

Underwood is not new to the sport of triathlon though, having taken part in a number of different events which include the Liverpool Triathlon last year. He will be taking on the sprint distance for 2012 and is really looking forward to the challenge. He said, &ldquo;I am really excited to come back this year and take on the event for a second time. First and foremost, I want to beat my time from last year, and believe that with some good training that I will be on track to achieve this&rdquo; He continues, &ldquo;I enjoy the training that comes with competing in triathlon &ndash; completing three disciplines means that it is possible to mix it up, and I never find any part of it too tedious.&rdquo;

Underwood continues, &ldquo;Since my rugby days I have not taken part in any other competitive sport and triathlon offers me this. I found the swimming part of training the most difficult to begin with, but with some targeted training I have really improved. The Liverpool Triathlon is a great race with an incredible atmosphere; I would recommend it to anyone who has still not yet entered all of their races for 2012.&rdquo;

Kevin Stewart Managing Director of event organiser World Endurance UK said, &ldquo;It is great to have Rory on board again for the second year, he is a great ambassador for the sport of triathlon and we look forward to seeing him on the starting line. With The London Triathlon taking part in September this year, the Liverpool Triathlon is the perfect race this summer. The race follows a fast and safe course on closed roads in Liverpool city centre, taking in many of the iconic sites of the city. It is an experience to take part, and we are excited about hosting it again in 2012.&rdquo;

To join Rory at The Liverpool Triathlon on 1st July, enter via the event website. Also follow &lsquo;Liverpool Triathlon&rsquo; on Facebook, to remain updated with recent news and releases.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dirty Sanchez Star to tackle Ironman Wales]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9589.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Television star Matthew Pritchard has announced that he will be taking part in this year&rsquo;s Ironman Wales race in September. A Welsh professional skateboarder, daredevil and one quarter of the Dirty Sanchez crew, Pritchard is used to taking on new and different challenges, and he now wants to add Ironman to his list. However, he isn&rsquo;t new to endurance sport-  having taken part in Ironman UK last year and numerous sporting challenges since then including running a marathon (in full fireman kit) and running a half marathon for each day of November to raise money for charity.

On 16th September 2012 Pritchard will be joining 1800 other athletes at the coastal town of Tenby, Pembrokeshire to take part in the second instalment of Ironman Wales. Located on Wales&rsquo; southwest coast, Pembrokeshire is best known for the breath-taking landscape of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, featuring miles of sandy beaches and a spectacular coastline. The race offers a challenging but scenic course, weaving through quaint towns and alongside picturesque beachfronts before an atmospheric finish in the centre of Tenby.

So what sparked the change in Pritchard, why is he transforming himself from a life of dangerous stunts and extreme activities to Ironman endurance racing?

Pritchard said, &quot;I decided last year that I was going to race Ironman UK in Bolton, and I really enjoyed it, so much so, I went straight ahead and booked in for Ironman Wales this year.&quot; He continued, &quot;To race an Ironman in my home country is the icing on the cake &ndash; I am really excited about taking part.&quot;

He has great expectations for his future in endurance sport and spoke confidently about his goals, continuing, &quot;I would really love to race at Kona one day, and hope to take part in lots more races in the meantime. I have many challenges planned and am excited about what the future holds for me.&quot; He continued, &quot;This year I am planning an additional challenge with my brother &ndash; a challenge that we are calling The Triggathon UK this is to swim the 10 miles across lake Windermere before jumping on our bikes and cycling within 26 miles of our hometown Cardiff. Then we will both run a marathon to finish it all off.&rsquo; This is a crazy challenge by anyone&rsquo;s expectations, but it is just a warm-up for Matthew, who said, &quot;In 2013 we are going to complete Triggathlon Europe; swimming the channel, cycling across France then running across Spain so as you can see we have a lot planned.&quot;

Pritchard is clearly not leaving much time to rest, and is going to be pretty busy for the next 12 months. His training for Ironman Wales has already begun and he is determined to finish in a stronger position than his first race at Ironman UK last year.

It is still possible to race alongside Pritchard at Ironman Wales 2012, and more information can be found at www.ironmanwales.com For athletes who wish to race for a special cause, Scope and the RNLI also have a number of fundraising places available. For more details about entering the race as &lsquo;Team Scope&rsquo; visit www.scope.org.uk, or &lsquo;Team Lifeboat&rsquo; at www.rnli.org.uk]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[2012 and 2013 Cross Triathlon World Champs announced]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.tri247.com/article_9594.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[The  International Triathlon Union (ITU) is pleased to  announce the 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships will be held in Pelham, Alabama, on May 19 in a partnership with the XTERRA Southeast  Championship. The event will feature $20,000 USD in prize money for elite  athletes, who will compete over a 1.5km swim, 30km mountain bike and 10km trail  run. Under23, junior, age-group and paratriathlon races will also be  contested in Pelham.

Marisol  Casado, ITU President &amp;amp; IOC Member said, &amp;quot;The triathlon and multisport family is extensive and far reaching and ITU is delighted to form a partnership with XTERRA for our 2012 Cross Triathlon World Championships. We are confident the strong race organization and dynamic course  will continue to push Cross Triathlon to a new level.&amp;quot;

Dave  Nicholas, Race Director, XTERRA Southeast Championships added, &amp;quot;TEAM  unlimited is excited about bringing the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship  to the USA.  By combining the XTERRA series with ITU we are reaching new  heights in cooperation between directors and the federations. Oak Mountain  and Shelby County are the perfect place to host this event.&amp;quot;

The  course at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County, located in the southernmost  part of the Appalachian Chain, is praised by competitors as being one of the  most fun, fast, scenic and difficult on the XTERRA schedule. Pelham will mark the second ITU Cross Triathlon World  Championships, following last year&#039;s successful event in Extremadura, Spain won  by Canadian Melanie McQuaid and South Africa&#039;s Conrad Stoltz. Both McQuaid and Stoltz are also the defending champions in Pelham. Click  here for more details

2013 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships
ITU has also  awarded the 2013 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships to Den Haag (The  Hague), Netherlands. The event is slated for July 13, 2013 and will offer  35,000 EUR in prize money for elite athletes and will also hold under23, junior  age-group and paratriathlon categories. In preparation for the event, the  city will host the European Cross Triathlon Championships this year. Click here for more details]]></description></item></channel></rss>
