Last weekend saw the Bristol Triathlon 2022 take place in the city, with competitors racing along the likes of the Harbour, Cumberland Basin and the Portway. This year's event also saw new challenges for participants, in the form of different distances - the Sprint and Standard challenges.
The Triathlon, which is run by Tough Runner UK, has been dubbed one of the most exciting triathlons in the UK, with entry spaces selling out in quick time and leaving hundreds on the waiting list. And, from the looks of things, the 2022 event was a roaring success with no injuries, record crowds and a more accessible race in general, meaning more people had the opportunity to compete.
Adam Newton, one of the organisers of the event - and others like it across the UK - told Bristol Live that one of the main highlights from the race this year was the sheer number of people coming along to show their support. He said: "It was so busy - good busy - I have never seen crowds like it there.
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"We had loads of local support with volunteers on the day and huge support from Bristol City Council, so we'd like to thank them a lot. I think the weather definitely brought everyone out and we had loads of people along the cycle route - and the atmosphere at the finish line was absolutely buzzing."
Adam also described how this year's event saw a significant change in how those competing began their race and how organisers had been inspired by feedback from participants around the previous race logistics during the Covid-19 pandemic. He added: "We sent people off in waves, after doing so last year and listening to feedback from those who had raced - and they said they had absolutely loved it.
"So we had between about four to six people jumping off of the pontoon every few seconds, which was really good. Usually people don't want to do triathlons, or they're put off doing triathlons because you're all normally just pushed off together in one big group and that can be really anxiety inducing.
"So this time, with the gradual waves of people at the starting line, they could take their time and jump off when they felt ready. It really helped I think and we had about 70% of the overall number who were first-timers."
Some 900 people are said to have officially started the race this year, with the quickest finish time coming in at two hours and two minutes. What's more, a handful of those competing were visually impaired - they were given a 10 minute head start so as to lessen anxiety and make the race more accessible.
Adam hopes that this will be the start of more people with disabilities being able to race, saying that the triathlon is a "completely inclusive sport" and describing the people in the community as being part of a "friendly, close-nit, supportive environment". He also believes that the Bristol event could soon become as big as those in other major cities across the UK - even London.
He said: "Bristol is becoming one of our biggest city centre races in the UK. It's quickly heading up there with the likes of London, but I think people sign up to the Bristol event really because it's a lot friendlier.
"Then you have the fact that if people want to stay for the weekend in Bristol and really make a trip of the race then Bristol has loads to offer - they can stay and explore. And then you've got the actual racing environment itself.
"The Portway is so big and sometimes city centre races can get really quite tight and congested, so to be able to have part of the Portway for the race definitely makes it better for participants. It's flat and fast too, which racers love and you only have to look at the photos from the day on Sunday to see that, well, to be able to cycle under the Suspension Bridge - that's pretty special, who can say they wouldn't want to race somewhere like that?"
Bristol Triathlon entries will reopen in August and Adam adds that 1000 tickets (the amount available to guarantee a space) will be snapped up in no time at all. He and his time will carry on growing the event here in Bristol, though they're currently busy on their next race in Wales on June 25.
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