National award for Ludlow duathlon
As the dust settles from a Shropshire duathlon now in its third year, organisers have dubbed it the most successful yet – and are now finalising plans for another one in just a few weeks time and a new 10k town run in July.
Ludlow's Storm the Castle duathlon, started by three friends in 2015, has now won a national award and this summer will be followed for the second time by Storm the Fort, a longer version setting out from Clun Memorial Hall on June 18.
The inaugural Ludlow10, a closed road race which will take place on July 8, and is the third event under the Ludlow school friends' Be Endurance brand.
With 350 athletes participating in Strom the Castle along with 270 children competing in Junior Storm races on April 23, the race is now well established in the athletic calendar and many competitors have said they will be returning for its longer counterpart in June.
Storm The Castle has also been voted number one event under 500 entries in the UK by readers of the biggest national triathlon magazine, 220 Triathlon.
Race director Dermott Hayes, 42, said: “That gave us goosebumps. To say we are blown away and chuffed to bits is a huge understatement.
“A few years ago, myself and Matt Green and Matthew Morris had an idea to create a sporting event in our hometown. I have never completed the race but the medals mean more to me than any Ironman or GB finisher trophies I have collected.
"Thank you to every athlete that has supported us and more so to every friend and family member and all volunteers who have helped us achieve our mission.
"It means so much to us to be recognised for what we are trying to build. We also want to thank our sponsors Premier Bike Ludlow Brewery and Radnor Hills for helping with this event. Yet again, the feedback has been amazing with many saying they will be back in 2018.”
The organisers had upped the ante this year by making the run-bike-run event even tougher, including a fourth brutal stint up the so-called "Lactic Ladder" between Dinham Bridge and Whitcliffe Common. The event consisted of 10k run, 33km bike, 5km run. Around 45 marshals and volunteers were involved, almost all local to Ludlow and the surrounding areas.
Jon Barnes, 25, of Yonda Racing Team from Hereford, was first to cross the finish line, completing the event in 1 hour 58 minutes and 20 seconds. Second was Jack Schofield, 23, already a podium finisher on the global multisport stage, having finished in third place at the Oklahoma World Championships last September.
He said: “Like Jon, I’ll definitely be back next year and racing Storm The Fort which, if I can string some form together over the next few weeks, could be a battle worth watching!”
