Xterra champs return to Vachery
All six former champions back for this year’s Xterra England, with Euro champs in their sights
Conrad Stoltz, Ben Allen, Richard Stannard, Jacqui Slack, Emma Garrard and Rachel Clay – all six former winners of Xterra England will return for this year’s event at the Vachery Estate in Surrey.
Up for grabs on the Bank Holiday weekend of 29th/30th August are national and European titles, a $25,000 prize purse and qualifying points for the 20th edition of the world championships in Maui, Hawaii.
Last year Stoltz (RSA) and Garrard (USA) clinched victory, with ‘The Caveman’ Stoltz overtaking Stannard on the bike to finish 3mins clear and claim his fiftieth Xterra win, and Garrard overtaking Slack on the bike and hanging on to claim her first.
Other pros lining up for this year’s Xterra England include: Matt Dewis (GBR), Doug Hall (GBR), Yeray Luxem (BEL), Tim McDowell (GBR), Paul Hawkins (GBR), Theo Blignaut (RSA), Aya Stevens (SVN), Joanna Carritt (GBR) and Louise Fox (GBR).
The championship distance is open to all triathletes and athletes of any ability and background and combines a 1.5km swim / 30km bike / 10km trail run on Sunday. There is also a half-distance sprint race option and athletes can join together to tackle either triathlon as part of a relay team. New for this year will be 10km and 22km trail runs on the Saturday, kids triathlons and the possibility of a bonfire and movie night.
Xterra England will be the last stop on a 12-stage European race tour, which also takes in Malaga (Spain), Golega (Portugal), Lake Plastira (Greece) and Lago di Scanno (Italy). Undisputed highlight of the off-road calendar though will be the 20th edition of the world championships held in Maui, Hawaii on 1 November.
Registration for this year’s Xterra England is open now at www.xterraengland.com.
Will you be racing Xterra England this year? Let us know in the comments!
Jamie Beach
Former digital editor 
