Hosted in Nottingham, just as it has been since 1991, the Zoot Triathlon Relays also saw new elite style relays and team time trials take place on Sunday alongside the traditional format.

Sunday

Saturday saw hundreds of teams take part in two waves of relays that offered prizes in men’s, women’s, mixed and open categories across a range of age-groups. The quickest teams got all four relay members around the 500m swim, 15km bike and 5km run course in less than three hours, whilst others went round at a more sedate pace in the freakishly hot 30 degree temperatures. 

Teams from Optima, Tricamp-Tfn, Army, Erdinger AF, Cambridge University and BRAT bagged the top prizes and many of those were back on Sunday morning to race again in the new elite format team heats.

For provisional event results from the event, visit the One Step Beyond website. A full breakdown of Triathlon England National Champions will be confirmed shortly. 

Sunday

The new elite style racing on Sunday saw each athlete cover a 250m swim, 5km bike and 1500m run before handing over to their teammate. The elite Jackpot racing team of Max Hazel, David Bishop, Tom Bishop and Adam Bowden were the quickest around the course in the heats recording a time of 01:05.16.

Loughborough Triathlon and Arragons Cumbrian Triathlon Club were the top two Home Nation affiliated clubs in the heats and successfully qualified to represent Great Britain at the ETU Triathlon Club European Championships in Nice on 4 October 2015. 

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Following the heats, the top ten men’s, women’s, mixed and open teams went forward to the team time trial final over double the race distance. Jackpot Racing set off last by being the fastest qualifiers, with Racetime RT a minute ahead and teams from Optima, Red Venom and Tricamp/Tfn ahead of them.

Jackpot closed that gap and all of the top teams demonstrated well-drilled team working skills in an exciting final. Jackpot took the win in 31:30mins, ahead of Racetime in 32:11mins and Optima in 32:58mins.

The final Triathlon England – National Championships of the year takes place at Oulton Park, host of the Triathlon England – National Duathlon Championships on 4 October 2015. 

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Did you race at the National Relay Champs? Let us know in the comments!

>>> Blenheim Palace Triathlon 2015 – in pics

Next year’s Bloodwise Blenheim Palace Triathlon will be held on 4-5 June and entries go on sale to the general public on 3 September 2015. The iconic Oxfordshire event is set in the spectacular grounds of Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site renowned as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. 

Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research chose Bloodwise as its new name after listening and responding to the needs of patients. The charity says its new name better captures all the life-changing work now being done – its continuing world-class research, its expanding portfolio of patient support services, and its role speaking up on behalf of those affected by blood cancer.

Matt Lawley, Head of Sports Events at Bloodwise, said: “Over the past three years the Blenheim Palace Triathlon has helped to raise awareness of our charity and over £1.5million to beat blood cancers. Next year’s event will be an amazing opportunity to make people aware of our new name.”

Thanks to everyone who’s signed our Thunderclap so far. Together we will beat blood cancer: http://t.co/Cj8f5zwuVN pic.twitter.com/rRrkZAUxup

— Beat Blood Cancers (@beatbloodcancer) August 24, 2015

This year’s event saw more than 7,000 people race around the palace, with Chris Perham and India Lee winning the elite races last June as part of the British Super Series.

For next year’s Bloodline Blenheim Palace Triathlon, participants are encouraged to get 48 hr priority entry for 2016 now by registering their interest.

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Will you be racing at Blenheim Palace next year? Let us know in the comments below!

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In the men’s rankings, 2014 champ Javier Gomez (ESP) managed to record a winning margin of 45 seconds for WTS Stockholm last weekend – the biggest gap for a WTS race in two years. It surely helped that neither Alistair nor Jonny Brownlee were racing though. 

This means that Gomez now has a career record of 34 WTS podiums from 46 race starts, and sits top of the 2015 leaderboard with 3820 points. His high-flying compatriot Mario Mola didn’t have such a good race in Stockholm, finishing 12th, but remains second on the leaderboard (3374pts). Fernando Alarza rounds out the top three (2961pts), thanks to a consistent run of results this season topped by silver in London.

France’s Vincent Luis sits in fourth position (2910pts), having grabbed gold at WTS Hamburg last month and racked up four podiums in total this year. South Africa’s Richard Murray is not far behind with 2857pts, though his best WTS result so far this season was bronze in Abu Dhabi.

And the Brits? Alistair and Jonny are in ninth and tenth at the moment, with just four points between them. Alistair made a strong start to the Rio 2016 test event earlier this month before being forced to slow down by an ankle injury, while Jonny remains out with a stress fracture picked up in St. Moritz. It’s not clear yet if either Brownlee will return to WTS racing this year.

Women’s rankings

Sarah True clearly enjoys Sweden – having grabbed the first WTS gold of her career in Stockholm last year, she repeated the feat over the weekend and strengthened her third place (3322pts) in the leaderboard rankings with just Edmonton and the Chicago Grand Final remaining.

With Gwen Jorgensen (4000pts) having won all six races she has started in 2015, True joins Britain’s Vicky Holland as the only other athlete to reach the top step of a WTS podium in 2015.

The USA’s Katie Zaferes continued her incredible run of second-place finishes in Stockholm, taking her fifth silver medal of the season last weekend, and currently sits in second position behind Jorgensen with 3700pts.

New Zealand’s Andrew Hewitt is in fourth position on the leaderboard with 3131pts, thanks to a consistent run of top-10 finishes that’s included bronze in Auckland and Stockholm. Rachel Klamer (NED) holds fifth position in the points race (2196pts), despite not reaching a WTS podium yet this year.

Non Stanford, Gwen Jorgensen and Vicky Holland racing at Rio 2016 test event

Vicky Holland is top-ranked Brits with 2126pts in sixth place, having won WTS Cape Town and taken silver in Hamburg. Resurgent fellow Brit Non Stanford is out of the title race with 1238pts, after being forced to miss a number of races due to injury, but thrilling performances in her last few races suggest the 2013 world champ is getting back to top form.

The next stop on the World Triathlon Series is Edmonton, Canada on September 6th over the Sprint distance, followed by the Grand Final in Chicago on 18-19 September. We’ll be in Chicago to bring you all the action live right here on 220triathlon.com. 

Columbia Threadneedle Rankings following ITU World Triathlon, Stockholm
Men 

1st – Javier Gomez Noya (ESP) 3820
2nd – Mario Mola (ESP) 3374
3rd – Fernando Alarza (ESP) 2961
4th – Vincent Luis (FRA) 2910
5th – Richard Murray (RSA) 2857
6th – Ryan Bailie (AUS) 2601
7th – Henri Schoeman (RSA) 2508
8th – Joao Pereira (POR) 2344
9th – Alistair Brownlee (GBR) 2340
10th – Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 2186

Biggest rankings mover: Eric Lagerstrom (USA) – from 103rd to 66th (254 points).

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Women

1st – Gwen Jorgensen (USA) 4000
2nd – Katie Zaferes (USA) 3700
3rd – Sarah True (USA) 3322
4th – Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 3131
5th – Rachel Klamer (NED) 2196
6th – Vicky Holland (GBR) 2126
7th – Barbara Riveros (CHI) 2118
8th – Aileen Reid (IRL) 2078
9th – Flora Duffy (BER) 2009
10th – Rebecca Robisch (GER) 1929

Biggest rankings mover: Emma Jackson (AUS) – from 63rd to 40th (667 points).

The full Columbia Threadneedle Rankings can be accessed here.

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Are there any surprises left in this year’s WTS contest? Let us know in the comments!

The news broke early this morning, and Wanda Group assumes Ironman’s existing – unspecified – debts from current owner Providence Equity Partners.

The finish chute at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii (Paul Phillips)

Ironman CEO Andrew Messick said: “Wanda Group’s acquisition of Ironman marks another exciting chapter and opportunity for the future growth of Ironman after seven very successful years of ownership by Providence Equity Partners.

“Wanda Group is a global-minded organisation that shares our desire for excellence and continued growth, particularly in Asia. We are delighted to be part of the Wanda Group family of companies and are excited about the future of Ironman as we continue to provide life changing race experiences for athletes of all levels from their first step to the finish line.”

There’s certainly plenty of headroom for growth in the Far East – just 100 Chinese athletes have completed an Ironman race in the history of triathlon, a company spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal.

Industry watcher Gary Roethenbaugh, founder of news source Triathlon Business, believes the acquisition represents a “major shift in gear” for the M-Dot brand.

“While it is understood that it will be business as usual for the Ironman team in Tampa, Florida – with Ironman now part of the rapidly expanding Wanda Group, we can expect to see a flurry of activity for Ironman and IM 70.3 in the Asia region in particular.”

During the announcement, Ironman also revealed it expects to generate revenues of $183m in 2015, and has increased revenue at a compound annual growth rate of 21% over the past four years.

More information and comment to follow… 

(Main image: Getty)

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What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

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>>> Is there any stopping ‘Caveman’ Conrad Stoltz?

“I’m pretty sure this it,” says the four-time Xterra world champ. “I don’t have regrets. I’m 41, I had a fantastic career, have lots of memories and have done a lot of neat stuff.” 

The most successful off-road triathlete ever, Stoltz has racked up 51 career championship wins (53 if you count Buffelspoort cross triathlon) and seven world titles, including four Xterra world titles and three ITU Cross Triathlon world titles. 

Stoltz says the best thing that ever happened was the birth of his baby girl Xena in the off-season. “She changed our lives in a huge way. Everything else pales in comparison now that we have this little bundle. My retirement means we can really spend a lot of time with her and we literally have her with us all the time. Being a Dad is indescribable. It’s awesome.”

Hugely respected for his fearless downhill skills, fierce competitive streak and warm demeanour, Stoltz will be hoping to bow out with a win at Vachery Estate in Surrey this weekend – he won last year’s event by nearly three minutes.

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Over the past 15 years racing Xterra, The Caveman has become known as one of the most approachable and generous athletes in the sport – from signing autographs and providing simple words of advice to full-blown mentoring gigs and visiting sick kids at children’s hospitals.

#TBT The story of my first XTERRA: http://t.co/zOAwuM9Apo @XTERRAoffroad

— Conrad Stoltz (@ConradStoltz) August 27, 2015

And the secret to his longevity? His Dad said: “I once showed him a dung beetle that was trying to roll his ball of dung up a very steep incline. The ball kept rolling back, but the beetle kept retrieving the ball and pressing forward. I said to Conrad, ‘That’s how one should live one’s life. One never gives up.’”

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Can The Caveman make it one last win in Cranleigh? Let us know in the comments!

>>> Ironman bought by China’s Dalian Wanda group for $650

No surprise really – it’s triathlon’s biggest corporate deal yet, and involves arguably the sport’s biggest player, a brand that has gone from a handful of endurance enthusiasts in Hawaii to a global business worth $650m.

So what do triathletes and other commentators think? Well some are (understandably) concerned this might lead to a rise in entry prices:

Others wonder if there will be a change at feed stations:

And Joe Richer hopes it doesn’t mean any changes for the famous finish line chute salute:

More than one reader thinks it’ll be ‘business as usual’:

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Killian Long points out there’s still a long way for triathlon to go in China:

Tony Ball hopes the live coverage will benefit:

Finally, Tim Tansley says now might be the time to start investing in tattoo removal firms:

(Main image: Getty)

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What do you think? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook

>>> How to conquer any open-water challenge

The three siblings Jack, Calum and Robbie Hudson took nine days to complete the challenge and finished last Sunday (23 August) in the Solway Firth, just south of Whitehaven. 

It wasn’t all smiles though – middle brother Calum, 25, picked up an ear infection in the latter stages of the challenge and struggled. “I thought the hardest thing was getting up early and putting on a cold wetsuit. But then I got a really bad ear infection about two days ago. So I found out that the combination of earache and spending 10 hours a day in cold river water were my two least favourite things.”

Berlin-based eldest brother Robbie, 27, added that the swim had been “a challenge”. Youngest brother Jack, 23, said it was an “incredible achievement”. The three siblings were on home territory though – they grew up in the Cumbrian village of Langwathby, mere metres from the River Eden.

“From its bubbling source in the mountains of Mallerstang, through the steep gorges and cascades of Hell Gill, past our old family home at Langwathby, the deep sandstone ravines and rapids of Armathwaite, to the wide floodplains of Carlisle and out into the mud flats, estuary and sands of the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea, we swam, scrambled, crawled, walked, jumped, climbed and floated every single inch,” said the brothers afterwards.

Their exploits have already raised £2,200 for The Swimming Trust, and are aiming for a total of £2,500 (donate here). Every penny of the money raised will be put back into swimming through setting up a bursary scheme in Cumbria to help more swimming teachers gain their level 2 qualification.

Three key takeaways

For all 220 readers inspired by the Wild Swimming Brothers’ exploits, they offer three tips for planning your own river swim:

1. Trek to the source of a river, It’s fascinating, bizarre and will give you a totally different perspective on them. The Eden bubbles up from the ground at the top of a mountain, a deep dark hole belching up murky brown water which flowed through a deep soggy bog before cascading down a ravine, truly awesome!

2. Never underestimate the power of duct tape.

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3. There are adventures to be had in the places you least expect.

“We would like to say HUGE thank you’s to every single person that has helped, supported, fed, advised, housed, donated, given us fresh milk, kayaked, swam with us and been part of this adventure,” say Robbie, Calum and Jack.

“We’d like to give a special thank you to James Silson who was alongside us every single mile, we couldn’t have done it without him, an honorary brother! Also David Ronton who kayaked five full days with us and kept us motivated and supplied us with whisky.

“Also our Dad Ralph Hudson who was a crucial support car, all round fixer and cartographer. Finally our Mum Tina Wild who appeared countless times out of nowhere to rescue us when we were at our lowest points and in dire need of food and support. Truly a team effort and something we will never forget!”

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Head to our Training section for lots more open-water swimming advice