Aqua Sphere announces 2017 athlete race schedule

With a reputation for long lasting high comfort swimming kit with innovation at its core, Aqua Sphere UK is building an exciting stable of athletes spanning various swimming and triathlon disciplines. Each athlete has specific race goals for 2017 and Aqua Sphere is proud to support this hard working and ambitious team with high performance swimwear, award winning goggles, aquatic training gear and triathlon wet suits. Some of the team also race in Aqua Sphere’s ‘MP’ brand which is produced in partnership with Michael Phelps and is ideal for competitive swimmers who undertake substantial pool training and racing.

As well as racing to retain her 2016 titles at this year’s Best Fest open water swimming festival in Mallorca in May, National Masters medallist Jo Mitchinson is taking part in the 3km open water and 800m pool at the World Masters Swimming Championships in Budapest in August. Jo is also undertaking the Great East Swim in June (Aqua Sphere is the official swim brand to the Great Swim Series) and, at 38, has also qualified as the oldest competitor ever for the East England Regional Winter Championships in November (400 and 800).

Middle distance dynamo Alice Jenkins has a busy season ahead and key races include the Ringwood Tri, the European Middle Distance Championships in Herning, Ironman 70.3 in Edinburgh, and the British middle distance championships at the Vitruvian. Her Edinburgh clubmate Elizabeth Richardson is aiming for the World Standard Distance Championships in Rotterdam and her season also includes the Chester Deva Standard, the ETU European Standard Distance Championships in Austria and the Edinburgh 70.3.

Paul Cowling has already qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Kona and is planning on warming-up for the ‘big one’ by racing Ironman 70.3 in Staffordshire. Brian Fogarty, his Kona teammate from last year, is racing Ironman Lanzarote, Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire and Ironman UK before heading out to Hawaii in October.

James Hodgson also has a busy season ahead and it is already looking promising with places secured at the European and World Sprint Championships. He hopes to be in contention for a medal there and at the National Championships after a strong Winter and is also looking to secure qualification for the 2018 European and World Sprint Championships as well as defending his City of Birmingham title for the third year in a row.

Stef Jackson Horner is planning to compete in the British and European Championships again as well as aim for the World Championships. And Slateman winner, Suzie Richards, will again be competing to retain her Slateman title this year as well as racing as a Pro at Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire, Edinburgh, Dublin and Weymouth.

19 year-old triathlete Seamus Sheard is competing in the Dambuster, the Deva Triathlon, Ripon (National Championships) and Arundel. He is also competing in three of the iconic Always Aim High events, races which have been supported by Aqua Sphere since their conception – the beautiful Slateman in May, the Snowman and the Sandman.

Aqua Sphere’s youngest ambassador, 12 year-old triathlete Connor Nutley, is competing in the East Midlands Triathlon (Junior) Series and his other events include the Leeds Castle Kent Aquathon, the Harvey Haddon Tri Nottingham and the Lincoln Tri. Connor is also now old enough to compete in the adult events at the Great North Swim and the Great London Swim and is looking forward to both.

Aqua Sphere range

All the named athletes will be racing in suits from Aqua Sphere’s range which includes the Challenger which was introduced a couple of years ago as a great mid-price suit which is also full of quality features. For £269.99, triathletes get good comfort and flexibility in full SCS coated quality yamamoto rubber #39. Features include a Chafe-Guard under the arms, a bio-stretch zone of only 2mm for excellent flex at the lower back and under the arms, and a durable deep-back pull zipper with leash for easy on off.

The £499.00 Phantom is the top of the range tri wetsuit by Aqua Sphere and is used by athletes including Ironman World Champion Terenzo Bozzone and Timothy O-Donnell. It is a super-fast wetsuit with an internal adjustable belt support, the Core Power System, to help enable the optimal position in the water for speed and efficiency. An extremely flexible wet suit, features are numerous and include quick release ankle transition panels, a very thin 1mm Bio Stretch Zone at the lower back and under the arms for minimal restriction and maximum reach and dexterity, and an extended length reverse zipper.

Aqua Sphere is proud of all of its Team Aqua Sphere UK athletes and wishes them all an exciting and successful season ahead, whatever their race aims and ambitions. For more information on Aqua Sphere’s award winning swimming goggles, swimwear and triathlon wet suits visit www.aquasphereswim.com/uk