Montgomery Canal Triathlon fully booked

ORGANISERS of the Montgomery Canal Triathlon are delighted to have 240 entries for this year’s event when entries closed early in May.

Entrants will have the opportunity to cover all the 35 miles of canal in one day—though not all will take part in all three sections—by cycle for 17 miles from Newtown, then walking another 11 miles from Pool Quay, lastly seven miles by canoe to finish below the locks at Welsh Frankton where the Montgomery Canal joins the rest of the national waterway network.

Helping participants

With a number of obstructions on the route, the organisers have called on the help of over 60 members and friends to help participants across roads which block the towpath and past locks which cannot be used by canoes.

The event is organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal on Saturday 18th May, who this year have the assistance of a substantial donation from Tesco’s ’Bags of Help’ programme through the store in Pool Road, Newtown.

The Triathlon will be started by Sir Gareth Edwards who is visiting the event as part of a TV documentary commissioned by BBC Wales. He will be assisted by Sue Newham, Mayor of Newtown.

Popular event

Christine Palin, Chairman of the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, explained:

“The Montgomery Canal Triathlon is always a popular event as the numbers joining this year show. It is always a pleasure to see people who have taken part before, and those who bring friends to join in.

“As usual, there are some keen athletes taking part as well as families who will tackle the event at a more leisurely pace. As well as local entries, we have a number of entrants from further away, some coming 200 miles or more from Scotland, East Anglia and London.

“Previous Triathlons have enabled us to make a substantial donation to the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal for future restoration works, and we hope that our entrants will be providing further sponsorship so we can do so again.

“All this would not be possible without the help of the many volunteers who turn out to help the entrants along their way. And this year we have assistance from Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ scheme which has helped us to keep the cost of entry the same as previous years even though the cost has been rising.

“Now we are just hoping that the weather will be kind to us: not too hot, and not too wet would be just right!”.