News

Greater Manchester Fire Service Tri Club and Team Surosa triathlete, Martin Cain continued his winning streak when he won the Wilmslow Triathlon on Sunday 10th May - his second triathlon triumph in the North West region in the last two weeks. He also won the Newton-le-Willows Triathlon on 26th April. His overall time was an impressive 1hr 4m 51s to complete the course, which consisted of a 400m swim in Wilmslow Leisure Centre pool, a 23.8km cycle ride around local villages, and finishing with a 6.7km run around the Bollin Fee area of the town. The first lady was TriCentral triathlete Ellie Debenham, from Chester, in a time of 1:17:18.

This annual triathlon was full with a record number of 350 entries. These included 128 novice competitors, amongst whom were two Stockport firefighters, Dave Cracknell and Kevin Downey, who appeared in a number of costumes: completing the swim as mermaids, the bike stage as firefighters on a tandem complete with siren, and the run dressed as ostriches! They estimate that the event assisted them in raising £500 for their watch charity, Wish Upon A Star.

Enthusiastic local resident, Shiona Griffiths, provided a water station outside her house, which was greatly appreciated by passing triathletes on the run stage.

Wilmslow-based triathlon club "Scarab Tri Club" assisted the race organisers in many ways, including providing most of the marshals for the event. Other groups providing marshals were Wilmslow Rugby Club, Wilmslow Running Club, Wilmslow Rotary Club, 6th Wilmslow Scouts, University of Chester students and Alderley Edge Explorers. All competitors received a goody bag and T-shirt for taking part, and winners received various prizes from sponsors including Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative, Zoggs, TriCentral, Sweatshop, Nokia, For Goodness Shakes!, Pure Blue, Sports Tours International, and Jointace.

The event nearly did not take place, as some windows around the pool in the leisure centre had been smashed by local vandals the day before, causing glass to go into the pool. However, quick thinking leisure centre staff, and their determination for the event to go ahead, found some local divers who removed all the glass from the bottom of the pool - just in time!

Overall, the event was a great success, and even the weather held out!