Thousands flock to Hever Castle Tri
New Gauntlet race sends hardcore racers through River Eden
Hever Castle Triathlon attracted over 5,000 competitors to Kent last weekend, lured by the promise of £8k in prize money and the chance to get an alcohol-free beer from Henry VIII at the finish line.
The gruelling new Gauntlet event sent 300 racers through the River Eden and was eventually won by Karl Alexander and Carol Bridge, who took home £1.5k each in prize money.
In the Olympic-distance race, Cyril Viennot won the men’s race as part of Team France, which beat Team GB to £1k in prize money.
Second-placed David Bishop took the men’s Castle Triathlon Series prize for Olympic distance, while Catherine Jameson won the women’s race and the female Series prize.
Paul Johnson and Karina Eustace won the men’s and women’s sprint-distance races, where Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn greeted competitors at the finish line with a pint of Erdinger Alkoholfrei beer.
There was also a very special message for the thousand youngsters taking part in the children’s triathlon, with 2013 ITU World Champion Non Stanford wishing them good luck on CBBC Newsround at the weekend (video here).
Race Director Brian Adcock said: “Hever Castle was the first, and the flagship event, of the Series and to see it grow to this size with all the festival elements, elite and media recognition is amazing.”
Full results can be found here.
Jamie Beach
Former digital editor 
