Ironman UK Preview

Thursday, 17th August 2006

Last year's Ironman UK champions, Bryan Rhodes and Rebecca Preston, will return to Sherborne Castle in Dorset this weekend to try and defend their IRONMAN UK titles.

Rhodes, from New Zealand, impressively won in 2005 with a 8:42.14 clocking, some 25 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor. Stephen Bayliss was Britain's top finisher in last year's event with a commendable fifth place; but he will be competing at the European Long Course Championships next week in Holland instead of returning to British shores. Top returning Brit will be Andy Blow who narrowly beat off 2005 Women's Champion, Rebecca Preston of Australia.

Preston won by a massive 27 minutes last year and looks favourite to take the title again on Saturday, with many of the European based competitors away in the European Long Course Championships, including Britain's Bella Comerford who has finished 4th and 7th in her two Ironman events of 2006.

Alongside the Elite competitors, somewhere in the region of 1300 'age-group' athletes will be starting the race, ranging from the 18-24 year olds, all the way through to the 65-69 age group category, many of whom will be coming from abroad to compete in this incredible race.

The Ironman is a truly epic event, with competitors racing over a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle and a 26.2 mile marathon of running. The weather forecast looks like be dry for the race, which will be a major relief to competitors and race organisers alike.

Source:  British Triathlon

More info:  www.ironmanuk.com