This year’s race will also be the ‘world’s first half-distance night triathlon’, according to the organisers. The swim will take place as the sun sets over Bahrain’s spectacular skyline, and the athletes will complete the bike and run in the dark along a well-lit course.

“We are delighted to announce Challenge Bahrain 2015 under the direction of new general manager, Mikel Calahorra,” said Challenge Family CEO, Zibi Szlufcik.

“We have no doubt that Challenge Bahrain will again set new standards for triathlon with its exciting night race format and we very much look forward to returning to this spectacular nation.”

Helle Frederiksen wins Challenge Bahrain 2015

Some of the world’s top triathletes are expected to be racing this November, including current 70.3 world champion Daniela Ryf (GER) and this year’s Challenge Dubai winner Terenzo Bozzone (NZL), along with more than 1,000 age-groupers. Last year’s Challenge Bahrain was won by Helle Frederiksen (DEN) and Michael Raelert (GER).

Entries will open this Thursday (11 June) at an early-bird special rate of $280 for individual athletes. For more info head to www.challenge-bahrain.com.

This news follows hard on the heels of Ironman’s announcement yesterday that it will host the 70.3 Middle East Championship in Bahrain this December, and a new 70.3 race in Dubai in early 2016. 

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Will you be entering Challenge Bahrain? Let us know in the comments below!

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The course sends athletes out of T1 from Oranmore to Clarinbridge Estuary – the easternmost point of Galway Bay – and joins the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s longest defined coastal touring route.

Presenting some of the most breathtaking scenery anywhere in the world, the organisers describe it as a picture postcard of Ireland. Riders can enjoy spectacular scenery through The Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. 

Corkscrew Hill, Ireland

As they climb the switchbacks of ‘Corkscrew Hill’, riders will be rewarded with views over the Burren to the coast returning via a magnificent oceanside section from Doolin through to the beautiful seaport village of Kinvarra.

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Challenge Galway will be take place on 24-26 June 2016, featuring a range of distances and formats including full, half, women-only and kids’ races.

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So we’ve asked the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association, authors of Wild Swimming Walks (Wild Things Publishing, £14.99), to share their favourite country walks with us – each one featuring a recommended wild swim…

>>> 220’s guide to the UK’s best open-water swimming venues

Shepreth to Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Maps: OS Landranger 154 (Cambridge & Newmarket) or OS Explorer 209 (Cambridge). 

A 9.5 mile walk. From Shepreth train station, follow the signposted footpaths through Barrington, Harston, Hasslingfield and then onto Grantchester. The River Cam can be followed into Cambridge. The River Cam is a clear river with a modest current, and offers scope to do a long swim downstream from Grantchester all the way to Newnham. 

Farnham to Frensham Great Pond

Map: OS Landranger 186 (Aldershot and Guildford); OS Explorer 145 (Guildford and Farnham); for the Bentley option only, OS Explorer 144 (Basingstoke). 

An 8 mile walk from Farnham Station. The main swim is in Frensham Great Pond, and there are also swims in the young River Wey. Follow the North Downs Way along the River Wey, then join the Surrey Cycleway Link before your fist swim in Tilford. You can then follow a track to Frensham Great Pond.

Southease to Newhaven

Map: OS Landranger 198 (Brighton & Lewes); OS Explorer 123 (Eastbourne & Beachy Head). The hamlet of Southease is on Explorer 122, not 123, but is easy to find without the second map.

This is a walk of contrasts, between tranquil Southease, and the industrial present and remains of Newhaven. Follow the South Downs Way signposts eastwards to Itford Hill. Follow the ridge, and descend to the sea. The best place to access fairly deep water at any tide is outside the Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club.

Manningtree circular 

Maps: OS Landranger 168 (Colchester); OS Explorer 184 (Colchester) and 196 (Sudbury, Hadleigh & Dedham Vale).

A beautiful walk through Constable country with several opportunities to enjoy good river swimming in the famous Stour. A particularly good spot is opposite Dedham Mill where the river opens into a pond and there is a small beach. Follow footpaths to Flatford and Dedham, and once you’ve sawm, follow the river back to Manningtree station.

Shillingford to Didcot

Map: OS Landranger 164 (Oxford) or OS Explorer 170 (Abingdon, Wantage & Vale of White Horse).

An easy walk with plenty of opportunities to swim in the River Thames. There are many possible swimming places – the river is quite wide and deep and easy to swim across.  Follow the footpath signed for the Thames Path. At Little Wittenham follow the river bank to Day’s Lock and a weir. A cycle track will take you back to Didcot station.

Kirby Cross to Frinton and Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex

Maps: OS Landranger 169 (Ipswich & The Naze); OS Explorer 184 (Colchester, Harwich & Clacton-on-Sea).

A perfect summer’s walk of 10.5 miles with sea swims from sandy beaches. From Kirby Cross station footpaths lead through open countryside, past the village of Great Holland, all the way to the sea. All the way along the shore, the swimming is exceptional with sandy beaches.

Folkestone to Dover, Kent

Maps: OS Landranger 179 (Canterbury & E Kent); OS Explorer 138 (Dover, Folkestone & Hythe).

Starting from Folkestone station, the day starts with swims from shingle coves or sandy beaches and continues with a 9 mile walk over towering cliff tops and past mysterious relics of war. The first swimming opportunity is from Mermaid beach, Mill Point. The second swim is on the other side of Folkestone Harbour at Sunny Sands, a lovely sandy beach. 

Chilworth to Guildford, Surrey

Map: OS Landranger 186 (Aldershot & Guildford) or OS Explorer 145 (Guildford & Farnham)

This 8 mile walk crosses heathland dotted with pretty Surrey villages before dropping down to follow the Wey Navigation, where there are many swimming places. From Chilworth station, the route crosses a mixture of wild and rather forbidding heathland, but soon gives way to gentle pastures, small woods and cosy commuter villages. The swimming is good with sandy beaches.

(Images: Margaret Dickinson / Sarah Saunders / R Corney / Liz Valentine)

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Wild Swimming Walks: 28 lake, river and seaside days out by train from London by the Kenwood Ladies Pond Association (Wild Things Publishing, £14.99) is available from all good bookshops and www.wildthingspublishing.com

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Prime Minister David Cameron, whose constituency of Witney includes Blenheim Palace, says: “There are few things more distressing than being diagnosed with cancer and, while survival rates are improving, there is so much more to do. My Government will not stop until Britain is the best place in Europe to survive cancer and organisations like Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research play a crucial role in achieving this goal with its compassionate care of patients and cutting-edge research.

“All of us will know someone who has been affected by cancer. This is such an important cause and I want to wish everyone involved in the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Blenheim Palace Triathlon the very best of luck. Together, we really can beat blood cancer and help to improve the lives of cancer patients across the UK.”

Scarlett’s Dragons

One group of Oxford fundraisers who will be drawing on Cameron’s message of support are “Scarlett’s Dragons”, a team of 164 parents rallying together on Sunday 14 June in support of 10-year-old Scarlett Clarkson who has leukaemia. The group has already raised £62,500 for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

Scarlett was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in January 2011 when she was just six years old. Unfortunately her initial chemotherapy treatment was unsuccessful and she relapsed, requiring further chemotherapy, steroids and radiotherapy.

Throughout December 2013 she rarely returned home, aside from Christmas Day when she had to be rushed back to hospital at 9pm with a treatment-related infection. She will continue to receive treatment for another year.

Scarlett’s parents, Dan and Bryony Clarkson, will both be taking part in the triathlon this year and are hoping to raise even more money and awareness for blood cancer: “We are aiming high with our fundraising again, as this is a cause which is so close to our hearts,” says Dan.

“Having a child with cancer has a devastating impact, both for the child and their family. If we can help reach a day when no other family has to go through the pain of having their child diagnosed with leukaemia, then the pain of our training will be well worthwhile.”

Scarlett met David and Samantha Cameron when they visited the hospital she was being treated. She was re-introduced to Samantha Cameron last year at a Downing Street reception held by the charity as part of September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

To support Scarlett’s Dragons please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/ScarlettsDragons. To keep up with all the latest news from the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Blenheim Palace Triathlon, visit www.theblenheimtriathlon.com.

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Age-group events taking place are the super-sprint (400m/13km/3km) and sprint on both days (13/14 June), sprint team relay on Saturday, and youth super-sprint on Sunday. The hardiest 20 souls will also be tackling the Weekend Warrior challenge of as many races as they can manage over the course of the weekend.

The British Super Series get underway on Sunday (14 June), when elites including Mark Buckingham, Lestyn Harrett, Emma Pallant, Alice Sharpe and Sophie Coldwell will shoot for the podium over sprint distance (750m/20km/5km).

Relay teams from three Formula One teams are expected to go head-to-head on Sunday. Situated within Britain’s ‘Motorsport Valley’, the event will see Mercedes AMG, Red Bull and Force India under starter’s orders with three relay teams each

Back for a second year are Scarlett’s Dragons, a 164-strong team, who have rallied together to support 10 year-old Scarlett Clarkson who is currently receiving treatment for leukaemia.  Last year the team comprised of 22 dads of children at the Dragon School in Oxford, who took on the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Blenheim Palace Triathlon to raise an astonishing £120,000 for the charity.

Matt Sharp and Emma Pallant won last year’s elite races over the sprint distance, with Sharp and second-placed male athlete Mark Buckingham just sneaking in under the 1hr mark. Pallant and Buckingham went on to win last year’s Super Series, and will be looking to make a strong start in this year’s opener.

If you’re racing the sprint distance then check out these race tips from last year’s winner Charlie Pennington. Good luck out there! 

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>>> Gallery: The Eirias Triathlon 2014

Taking place in Colwyn Bay, North Wales on Saturday 26 September, the middle distance+ race will start with a sea swim of 1900m, followed by a 106km cycle through the Welsh hills, finishing with a 20km coastal run to Porth Eirias Watersports Complex. There will also be a standard distance+ race involving a 1500m swim, 53km cycle and 10km run. 

The prizes will be awarded for the top three aggregated individual times achieved by a club or team, for both male and female teams. The winning male and female teams will receive £400 per team, with £250 awarded to the second team and £100 to the third team.

Carol Bridge, overall winner of the 2014 Eirias Middle Distance+ Triathlon

“The Eirias Triathlon is recognised as one of the best and most challenging triathlons in the UK and it attracts a top field,” said race director Simon Hill. “Being a Saturday race and now with the introduction of the cash prize fund we are hoping to see more clubs and teams from North Wales, the North West and beyond on the start line. 

Registration to The Eirias Triathlon is open at www.xtramileevents.com/events/ with individual entry fees of £90 for the middle distance and £65 for the standard distance race. Team relay entries are available for £125 or £75 respectively.

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Money raised from events like the London Triathlon allows us to continue helping members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Reservists, veterans and their families all year round, as we have done for over 90 years.

Test your stamina by taking part in the world’s largest triathlon on behalf of the Royal British Legion in order to help serving and ex-service personnel and their dependants.

This event attracts over 13,000 triathletes and 30,000 spectators come along to cheer all of the competitors along. The Royal Docks and landmark-laden cycling route into central London make for a pretty stunning backdrop!

There are distances to suit all abilities, from super sprint to Olympic plus, so if you’re up for pushing your limits and taking on this great challenge to help raise money for an incredibly worthwhile cause, then register here.

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Or contact Fiona for more information: [email protected] / 020 3207 2268.

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>>>Ironman 70.3 Staffs: our pick of the top age-groupers racing

Gomez revealed he had his season planned out months earlier, and is considering the defence of his 70.3 title as important as the 2015 World Triathlon Series. 

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We’re on-site tomorrow at Ironman 70.3 Staffs, and will be covering the race on Twitter, with full race reports and galleries on this website afterwards. Good luck to everyone racing!

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We’re on-site tomorrow at Ironman 70.3 Staffs, and will be covering the race on Twitter, with full race reports and galleries on this website afterwards. Good luck to everyone racing!

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