It’s time to open up your 2018 diaries and start planning…
British Champs, Triathlon England Champs and Qualifiers all announced
Just as you were thinking you haven’t finished your 2017 racing season, it is time to start planning for next year. This is the annual ‘big’ announcement from British Triathlon of the Age-Group Major Events Calendar, which includes British Chmapionships, Triathlon England Championships and ITU/ETU Qualification events.
The full release is reproduced below – here is a summary of some of the key points:
British Champs
- Duathlon – 25th March 2018 – Bedford Autodrome
- Standard – 10th June 2018 – ITU World Triathlon Leeds
- Sprint – TBC
- Middle – 8th July 2018 – The Festival of Endurance
Triathlon England Champs
- Duathlon – 17th March 2018 – Clumber Park
- Standard – 20th May 2018 – Stourport Triathlon
- Sprint – 3rd June 2018 – Thorpe Park
- Aquathlon – 7th July 2018 – Monster Racing Aquathlon
- Club Relays – 25th August 2018 – OSB Events
- Middle – 8th September 2018 – Vitruvian Triathlon
Changes to ITU Qualification year
Along with the championships (and the qualifiers), the other significant change is the move of qualification races for World Championship events to “year before the actual race”, in the same way that ETU European Championship qualification works now – i.e. the 2018 ETU event qualifiers were held in 2017.
With sometimes limited time (and thus increased costs), to book travel to often far away destinations at short notice, I can see the logic and consistency in that move for ITU event. What it does mean though is – for 2018 only – there will be ITU qualification races for Championship races in both 2018 AND 2019. So, make sure you take a long hard look at the list and make sure you are entering the right qualification race for the event AND year that you want to race in! 2018 will thus be an even more packed and confusing calendar than before – though ultimately, that ‘switch’ has to happen somewhere.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL DETAILED LIST OF QUALIFICATION RACES
British Triathlon confirms 2018 Age-Group Major Events Calendar
Following a hugely successful ITU Triathlon World Championships in Rotterdam, today, Monday 18 September, British Triathlon has unveiled the 2018 British Triathlon Age-Group Major Events Calendar, providing the chance for Britain’s top age-groupers to prepare for their own medal-winning success over the coming 12 months.
The announcement comes in conjunction with the announcement of 2018 Triathlon England National Championships and details the key dates for age-group athletes on the 2017 calendar. This includes all Triathlon England and British Triathlon Age-Group Championships as well as the Great Britain Age-Group Team qualification events taking place next season.
The British Duathlon Championships are set to kick-off the competitive season on Sunday 25 March 2018 and for the second consecutive year, the Bedford Autodrome Duathlon organised by Nice Tri Events has been awarded the honours. This will be followed by the British Standard Distance Triathlon Championships on 10 June 2018 which, following a successful 2017 event, will again be hosted by ITU World Triathlon Leeds. With the British Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships location still to be decided, the final event will be the British Middle Distance Triathlon Championships on 8 July 2018, to be held at The Festival of Endurance.
Triathlon England will begin their championship season with the National Duathlon Championships on 17 March 2018 at Clumber Park. The National Standard Distance Triathlon Championships will be held at the Southport Triathlon on 20 May 2018, whilst the National Aquathlon Championships will take place at the Monster Racing Aquathlon on 7 July 2018. Thorpe Park Sprint Distance Triathlon will be holding the National Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships on 3 July 2018, whilst the final Triathlon England Championship, the National Middle Distance Triathlon Championships, will be held at Vitruvian Triathlon on 8 September 2018.
As in previous years, 2018 will provide high quality events for all age-group athletes with the prospect of earning the right to wear the Great Britain Age-Group Team Tri Suit. Marking a change for the coming season, Great Britain Age-Group Team qualification events for ITU Sprint and Standard Distance Triathlon Championships will be moving in line with the European qualification process so that athletes qualify a year in advance of their particular championship. 2018 will therefore represent the changeover year in which age-group athletes have an opportunity to qualify for both the 2018 and 2019 ITU Triathlon World Championships. This change offers age-group competitors additional opportunities in 2018 to qualify for the team.
British Triathlon Director Major and National Events, Jon Ridgeon, said “We’re delighted to be able to fully confirm the 2018 British Triathlon Age-Group Major Events calendar, offering all our athletes fantastic locations for them to compete for British titles over the coming 12 months.
“It’s great to be able to return to many of our previous locations for championships as well as welcoming athletes to some brand-new venues, with each having been chosen for it’s fantastic location and ability to stage a show-stopping event.”
Duncan Hough, Triathlon England Director Rules and Technical, said “It’s fantastic to see a nice mixture of events chosen for the Triathlon England National Championships, with some old favourites working alongside new additions.
“I’m looking forward to what is set to be another fantastic season of triathlon.”
All of the individual events comprising the 2018 programme offer athletes the chance to experience competing at the leading age-group races across the Home Nations. Each event demonstrates some of the highest quality event-management and will give each competitor an opportunity to achieve their personal triathlon challenges in a safe and enjoyable environment.
For full information on all opportunities in which athletes can compete for a British or Triathlon England National title or qualify for the Great Britain Age-Group Team in 2018, please visit here: https://www.britishtriathlon.org/events/championships-and-qualifiers/itu-etu-qualifiers
