Cholmondeley Castle Race
Race 2 - Cholmondeley Castle Triathlon - Sunday 24th June 2012
This date hosts the second of the Markel Castle Triathlon Series. This race sets the scene for a competitive and fun series, hosted within the beautiful grounds and surrounding area of stunning rural Cheshire.
In 2011 we added "The Cholmondeley", an Olympic distance race, into the adult programme this year. This enables competitors to pit themselves against elite fields across the more demanding distances to be used at the Olympic Games in London 2012.
All races at Cholmondeley Castle start by launching into an open water swim in the iridescent Deer Park Mere Lake, transitioning into the technical cycle circumnavigating Bickerton Hill, which is the southern most tip of the Peckforton hills. There will be one cycle lap for the Sprint and two laps for both the Mid and Olympic distances. Similarly, the run passes through the stunning estate grounds and has one lap for the Sprint and two laps for the Mid-Distance and Olympic races. Triathletes finish by sprinting down the main lawn to the finish with Cholmondeley Castle as a fitting backdrop!
Markel Insurance £15K Charity Challenge.
Three castles, three relay competitions, three charity prizes, discounted entry & ipods for the winners!
Markel Insurance, our title sponsor, is inviting relay teams to enter their Charity Challenge competitions at Cholmondeley Castle on 24 June, Castle Howard on 22 July or Hever Castle on 30 September. The competitions, in which the winning team at each castle will receive £5,000 for its nominated charity, is open to anyone from the age of 16 up. Markel is offering teams of three triathletes a discounted entry of £76 (normally £120), to compete in the mid-distance event of 800 metre swim, 40 km cycle and 8 km run. As well as the charity donation, all winners will receive the latest iPad. Click here for more details or download the leaflet.
The Race Distances and Pricing
To compete in the Cholmondeley Castle Triathlon you can enter either as an individual, a relay team of two, or a relay team of three. The Junior and Children’s races follow the same format. Relay entries can be all male, all female or mixed.
If you would like to enter (but not compete) as a family, by entering the Sprint or Olympic distance for two adults and any three Junior or Children's entries you will be rewarded on price.
| Race Name |
Race Distance | Race Price |
| Adult Individual Olympic - The Cholmondeley |
1500m/44km/10km | £70.00 |
| Adult Olympic Relay - The Cholmondeley Relay |
1500m/44km/10km | £135.00 |
| Adult Individual Mid-Distance - The Marquess |
800m/44km/8km |
£60.00 |
| Adult Mid-Distance Relay - The Marquess Relay |
800m/44km/8km | £120.00 |
| Adult Individual Sprint - The Gothic |
400m/22km/4km | £50.00 |
| Adult Sprint Relay - The Gothic Relay |
400m//22km/4km | £95.00 |
| Junior (13-15 yrs) - The Chestnut |
300m/8km/4km | £35.00 |
| Children (11-12 yrs) - The Oak | 200m/4km/2km | £30.00 |
| Children (8-10 yrs) - The Cedar | 100m/4km/1.3km | £25.00 |
| Junior and Children's Relay |
All Distances |
£45.00 |
| Family Entry (2 adults, 3 children) |
All Distances |
£175.00 |
| Family Entry (2 adults, 2 children) |
All Distances |
£150.00 |
Juniors and Children's Races
Juniors and Children’s races take place within the Castle grounds and swim in the same lake as the adults. The cycle course is technical and the run takes in the castle gardens and monuments. The races are not only exciting, but are marshalled and timed as professionally as the Sprint, Mid-Distance and Olympic races. These races are designed for the ‘real’ experience with as much fun as the adult course. Please note that the children will remain on the estate throughout the whole race and will need mountain/ cyclo-cross bikes to navigate the off road course.
Training
If you or your children are new to the sport or you simply want to get some advice on improving technique then we recommend that you take advantage of our training set-up. Partnered with thetrilife.com, one of the UK's leading triathlon training providers, we offer a range of training programs and training days at our stunning castle venues. For more information please click here.
Accommodation
For local accommodation click here.
Camping
Camping will be available for the first time this year. The campsite is in a beautiful family friendly spot adjacent to Deer Park Mere. Toilets and shower facilities will be available.
For campervan and carvan owners there are no facilities for electric hook-up or the disposal of human waste.
Access to the Castle and Gardens
Access to the Estate grounds is free for spectators. The Castle is a private residence but the famous Gardens will be be open to the public with admission prices £5 adults and £2 children. The estate will be marked where spectators can watch and position themselves around the course. Parking: There will be parking within the Estate grounds. There is no charge to park however a donation towards our local charity will be much appreciated.
Start Times
Each adult race will be split into waves setting off at 10 minute intervals. The first adult wave will start at 8am.Entrants will be notified of their wave time in their race pack.The Junior and Children's races will start at 2pm.
Dependent on numbers there will be multiple waves for each age group.
We advise that entrants arrive at least 1 hour before their wave time.
On the Day
On the day there will be food and drink outlets as well as an array of retail and sampling stalls.
Course Maps
Please look below for the technical course maps of the routes on and off the estate:
Water Quality Testing
The water quality tests for 2011 for Cholmondeley Caste will be posted on the website. To view last year's certificate please click here. All tests are undertaken using the EU Water Bathing Directive as the benchmark.
Water Temperature
This will be taken nearer the Event. Wet suits will be optional on race day if the the temp is between 15 and 23 degrees centigrade.
Directions to the Castle
Cholmondeley Castle is located off the A49 Whitchurch/Tarporley Road, between Warrington and Whitchurch. The entrance to the gardens is off the A49 at the Cholmondeley Arms Pub crossroads postcode SY14 8HN. (Railway stations at Chester, Crewe and Whitchurch)
