Hundreds heading for triathlon at Ellesmere

Hundreds of athletes are expected to head to Ellesmere tomorrow for the 20th annual TRI UK Shropshire Triathlon.

The gruelling event will get under way at the Mere from 11am and more than 600 athletes have registered to take up the challenge.

Contestants will aim to complete a 1500m swim followed by a 40km bike ride and a 10km run.

The event is one of only three qualifiers for the BTF 2012 World Standard Triathlon Championships, which will take place in Auckland in October.

It attracts some of the most serious athletes in the country and is one of the most significant sporting events to take place in the town every year.

The event has been organised by Shropshire Council's leisure services team and leisure services manager Alan Penton.

He said: "The event has a strong history.

"It is the eighth time now it's been a world championship qualifier.

"Ellesmere is always a national or a world qualifying event and it always brings a national recognition to the county."

The event, which will see athletes competing over 13 age groups, attracted almost 400 athletes last year and entries for this year's event are now closed.

More than 300 volunteers will lend their support for the day to help out and the event will finish in Cremorne Gardens.

A relay race will also take place with teams of three competing across the standard distance.