The Bradley Stoke Journal

There’s still time to enter the 2011 Bradley Stoke Aquathlon that takes place at the Leisure Centre on Sunday 13th March.

Organising outfit Thornbury Running Club (TRC) says it is still accepting entries for the popular swim and run event, which is now in its third year following the inaugural race in 2009.

The competition caters for beginners and experienced athletes alike by providing two courses. The shorter course consists of a 500m (20 length) swim followed by a 5km run, while the long course includes a 1,000m (40 length) swim and a 10km run.

The swim phase of the event takes place in the main pool of the Leisure Centre. On leaving the water, competitors head out on foot into the adjoining Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve before returning to the finish line at the Leisure Centre.

The races may be entered by individuals or teams of two (one swimmer, one runner – any combination of age and gender).

Entries for the event close on Monday 28th February or when all the places are taken (if earlier). Online entries may be made via the Fabian4 website.

Read on for more information about the 2011 Aquathlon »

Organisers of the second Bradley Stoke Aquathlon, a swim and run event based at the Leisure Centre, have announced that the race is now full.

Sandra Webber of Thornbury Running Club says that a maximum field of 140 athletes will line up for the event on Sunday 14th March, which represents a 50% increase over the number that contested last year’s inaugural race.

The field includes large contingents from Bristol & District Triatheletes and the Kingswood Triathlon Club. Other competitors are travelling from Yeovil, London and Wales to take part in the event.

The first competitors will begin their swim at 8.30am and the event is expected to finish by 11:30am. A  prize giving ceremony will take place at around 12:30pm.

Sponsors are ZeroG, who co-own the Giant bike shop at the Willow Brook Centre, Easy Runner, Sweatshop, Kudos and Rapid Building Services.

Members of the public are advised that the main and small pools at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre will be closed until noon on the day of the event.

Entries have opened for the 2010 Bradley Stoke Aquathlon (swim + run) and the organisers say they are particularly looking to attract teams from local buisnesses to enter this year’s event.

Following the highly successful inaugural staging of the race last year, which attracted almost 100 competitors, organiser Sandra Webber of Thornbury Running Club (TRC) says she is hoping for a 50% increase in entries this year.

The competition caters for beginners and experienced athletes alike by providing two courses. The shorter course consists of a 500m (20 length) swim followed by a 5km run, while the long course includes a 1,000m (40 length) swim and a 10km run.

The event takes place at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre on Sunday 14th March.

The swim phase of the event takes place in the main pool of the Leisure Centre. On leaving the water, competitors head out on foot into the adjoining Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve before returning to the finish line at the Leisure Centre.

Each business team will be formed of two people: one to do the swim and another to tackle the run.

Further information:

• Bradley Stoke Aquathlon 2010 Entry Form (TRC)
• Bradley Stoke Aquathlon (The Journal)

Thornbury Running Club has been praised for its new aquathlon, staged for the first time last weekend in Bradley Stoke.

The event, at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, involved competitors swimming either 500m or 1,000m, then running 5km or 10km. Despite a forecast of thunder, hail and sleet, 86 competitors turned up to race.

“Thornbury Running Club have to be congratulated for their efforts, organisation and enthusiasm” said Paul Winteringham, of the British Triathlon Association, in his referee’s report. “They were determined to make this a success and they achieved this.”

The running club already organise three running races: the Sundayshill 10km in July, the Oldbury Power Station 10-miles in October, and the Riverbank Rollick in January.

Aquathlon organiser Sandra Webber said:

“We were very pleased with the number of entrants, which was very high for a new event. The club has also maintained its reputation for organising first-class events, which is very pleasing. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and said they’d be back next year.”

“A lot of local folk have said they enjoyed their first experience of a multi-discipline race. Having set the foundations this year, we plan to stage another aquathlon next year in Bradley Stoke – with the capacity for a larger field.”

Looking ahead to another major athletics event in the town, entries have now opened for the annual Bradley Stoke 10k Run, a multi-terrain race staged as part of the Community Festival in June. The race is organised by north Bristol ladies running group Sole Sisters and takes place on Sunday 14th June.

Related Links:

• Bradley Stoke Aquathlon (The Journal)
• Bradley Stoke 10k Run (The Journal)

Read more: Bradley Stoke Aquathlon 2009 results …

Bradley Stoke residents are being encouraged to take part in an Aquathlon (swim and run) event being staged in the town on Sunday 8th March.

Thornbury Running Club is organising the event, which will be based at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre in Fiddlers Wood Lane.

The swim phase of the event takes place in the main pool of the Leisure Centre. On leaving the water, competitors will head out on foot into the adjoining Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve before returning to the finish line at the Leisure Centre.

Two courses are on offer, with the shorter consisting of a 500m (20 length) swim followed by a 5km run, while the longer includes a 1000m (40 length) swim and a 10km run.

The races, which may be entered by individuals or teams of two (one swimmer, one runner), are open to anyone aged 12 or over.

All participants are required to pre-enter (there is no entry on the day as estimated swim times need to be calculated in advance). Entries will close on 20th February or when the entry limit of 100 is reached.

The main pool will be closed to the public from 8am to 12 noon on the day of the event. The first swimmers will go off at 8am and the races are expected to be complete by 12:45pm.

An awards ceremony is planned to take place at 1:15pm in the Leisure Centre, with a representative from the Willow Brook Centre (main sponsor of the event) presenting the prizes.

Willow Brook manager, Scott Lahive, told The Journal:

“We are delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile and prestigious sporting event that’s guaranteed to put Bradley Stoke on the sporting map. It’s yet another first for Bradley Stoke, drawing participants from far and wide. It’s testament to the can do attitude of the organisers and the town”

Further Information:

• Bradley Stoke Aquathlon (Thornbury Runing Club)
• Bradley Stoke Aquathlon Run Route (The Journal)