The Oldest Newest Venue Gets Ready to Welcome the Ironman
Wednesday, 17th August 2005
The inaugural IRONMAN UK Triathlon takes place this Sunday 21st August 2005 and will see 1500 athletes meet the challenge provided by the scenic English course.
The course is the newest IRONMAN on the Calendar, having previously been a half IRONMAN event, however it passes some of the oldest sights on any IRONMAN course.
Sherborne Castle: the 400-year-old former home of Sir Walter Raleigh. The venue actually boasts two castles, with the ruins of the old castle being 900 yrs old.
Sherborne: the historic market town of Sherborne, boasting a medieval high street and medieval abbey, which in 2005 will celebrate its founding by St Aldhelm in AD705, 1300 hundred years ago.
Dorchester: A very special blend of the old and the new with over 6000 years of history and culture. Its Roman origins are still obvious from the street layout and the tree lined town walks follow the lines of the Roman walls. It remains true to its more recent history as a market town and the centre of a wide rural area.
Montacute House: Built in the late 16th century for Sir Edward Phelips. The splendid staterooms are full of fine 17th and 18th century furniture. Montacute House displays over 50 Tudor and Elizabethan portraits in the Long Gallery, the longest of its type in England. The wider estate encompasses St Michael's Hill, site of a Norman castle, topped with an accessible 18th-century lookout tower. Featured in the award winning film, "Sense and Sensibility". The gate used by the athletes and the view they will get is one loved by filmmaker's worldwide and the last person to use the entrance was Johnny Depp!
IRONMAN UK boasts and array of international names looking to claim victory at the first ever IRONMAN UK. Athletes include Olaf Sabastachus, Francois Chabaud, Bella Comerford, Katja Schumacher, Stephen Sheldrake and Bryan Rhodes.
With the calibre of athletes as well as home grown talent on show it promises to be an exciting race and a fitting way for IRONMAN UK to take it bow on the world stage.
Article Source : IRONMAN UK Press Release