The third St Helens Triathlon sponsored by Handepay of Haydock in association with St Helens Community Sport and O2 Business Centre, Rainford took place on Sunday 10th September. The annual event organised by the Steve Prescott Foundation (SPF) and BeUrBest attracted a record 250 entrants including 8 teams. A team of Handepay employees also completed the triathlon to contribute towards hitting their £30,000 fundraising target for The Steve Prescott Foundation.
The special guest starter for the event was Great Britain rugby league legend and SPF ambassador Paul Sculthorpe MBE. The first phase of the Triathlon started with a swim in Eccleston Mere with transition to the very testing cycling phase which took the riders on the Shaley Brow challenge on their way to Orrell. The second transition was at Rainford High School where competitors completed the running phase. The recent inclement weather meant tricky conditions, but thankfully the morning stayed mostly dry to allow safe passage of all competitors.
Trophies and prizes were presented by Andy Peake the managing director of main sponsor Handepay and Linzi Prescott Trustee of the Steve Prescott Foundation. Each category winner received a £100 voucher for Thatto Cycles and runners up in the Open Age competitions received a £50 Thatto Cycles voucher.
The winners are: (provisional at 10.09.17)
Male Sprint open event (750m swim, 20k cycle and 5k run): Sam Wardle
Male Sprint over 40: Charlie Stirrup
Ladies Sprint open event: Rachel Fairclough
Ladies Sprint over 40: Karen Daley
Male Standard open event (1500m swim, 40k cycle and 10k run) was Mark Clair
Male Standard over 40: David Connor
Ladies Standard open event: Kimberley Bell
Ladies Standard over 40: Lorraine Halwood
Team winners: JBR of St Helens: Ben Sharratt, Ryan Snee and Joseph Wilkinson
Results can be found at www.sthelenstriathlon.com/results
Results via Tri website:
Standard www.webscorer.com/results?raceid=112351&pid=1&did=123390
Sprint www.webscorer.com/results?raceid=112351&pid=1&did=123389
Participants included Neil Prescott and former Saints rugby league star Steve Hall. Sam Wardle, winner of the Male Sprint defended his title from last year and there was also fantastic support from his club St Helens Tri, both in competitors and volunteers. Everyone who completed the course received a commemorative medal, a technical t shirt, and a goody bag. Water was also kindly donated by AJ Barr.
Sincere thanks to Terry Bates and his team from BeUrBest who provided expert advice, training support and logistical planning for the event. Traffic management was provided by Paramount Stewarding and Security and Traffic Direct with support from St Helens Council. Thanks to Tecmark for their technical support.
The event organisers would like to express their sincere thanks to Matthew Berridge-James of Pheasant Equities for permitting the use of Eccleston Mere and to Pilkington Sailing Club for the use of their facilities and also to John Swindells for permitting the use of his land for car parking and transitions. Thanks also to St Helens Scaffolding for erecting the transition points and to Rainford High School for facilitating the use of their school site for the event.
The event would not have been possible without the fantastic support of the army of nearly 100 volunteers who helped with so many roles including the registration of the participants and who helped ensure the safety and welfare of the athletes. A split transition arrangement also required the transfer of baggage from Eccleston to Rainford. Transport for transfer of both logistical equipment and athletes were supplied by CMH Vehicle Hire of St Helens.
The SPF sends a massive thank you to everyone who gave up their valuable time to help make the event such a success. Trophies were supplied by Timpsons of St Helens and technical t shirts were supplied by Bubble Customised clothing of Warrington.
Social media was full of positive feedback from competitors with many photos and an event video being posted online. Many praised the organisers, volunteers and marshals for their fantastic support.
Keira A.’ Thank you for one of the best events I've ever taken part in - brilliantly organised and a lovely team of marshals and participants - see you next year!’
Michael L: ‘What a great day. Everyone involved was fantastic. Events like this are nothing without the volunteers, a massive thanks to you all.’
Alice B: ‘Brilliant day, organisers were amazing, marshals were fantastic, thanks for making our first tri so amazing.’
For the first time, aerial photographs were taken by Steve Samosa Photography which provided a unique image of the event. www.stevesamosaphotography.com
Thank you to everyone who took part in the event and congratulations to all the category winners. Everyone can be proud of what the Handepay St Helens Triathlon 2017 has achieved; Steve Prescott’s final wish fulfilled and an event of which St Helens can be proud of.
Make a note of the St Helens Triathlon 2018 which will take place on Sunday 9th September 2018. Register before New year for exclusive super early bird rates.