Sporting coup for Bexhill

It's taken the Lions over a year to prepare for the event and with over three hundred and seventy entrants taking the challenge it promises to be a real sporting coup for the area.

Lions Triathlon Race Director David Burstow said:

"The date is important, as this is near the start of the 2010 Triathlon season, so triathletes will be keen to shake off the winter blues and put their training to a test. Our route is a major attraction '“ avoiding not only hills but also any significant traffic or other delaying factors.

"Participants can expect to set fast times as a benchmark for the season ahead."

Triathlon, a multi-discipline event where people compete against the clock and each other, swimming, cycling and running with no break (except for the transition period of a quick pit stop to change for the next discipline) is the UK's fastest growing sport.

Most of the competitors in the Bexhill Lions Triathlon live in the South-east and London, but others will be coming from all over the UK, Germany and France.

David said it's the lack of undulations in Bexhill as well as the sea, and the sea front, that are the major attractions to the growing band of triathletes:

"The Bexhill Lions Triathlon is set over the standard 'sprint' distances of a 750m sea swim, a 20km road cycle, and a 5km promenade run, with a transition zone at the foot of Galley Hill."

Young triathletes will compete in a separate event over shorter distances - 100m sea swim, 4km cycle on traffic-free closed roads, and a 2km promenade run.

David added: "It is the combination of the perfect site plus Bexhill Lions Club's aspiration to raise more funds that merged to give birth to the Bexhill Lions Triathlon."

The Lions have received massive support for the event.

David said: "We've been overwhelmed by positive support from everyone we've approached. Developing our plans involved not only a team of Bexhill Lions but also a large number of other organisations and individuals with both advice and practical support."

It's expected that the event will bring over 1000 people to Bexhill.

David said for many this will be their first visit to the area and media coverage, together with details in specialist Triathlon media, will help put "Bexhill more firmly on the map."

There may be some disruption along the route taken by runners and cyclists, and De la Warr Parade from Sea Road to Galley Hill will be closed to traffic and parking until around midday on Sunday 23 May.

Local residents will be given more details though to date David said all those contacted "look forward to watching the event outside their front doors!"

All proceeds from the Triathlon will go to charity; shared by The Sussex Air Ambulance, St Michael's Hospice, and the Bexhill Lion Club's charitable trust fund.

The Triathlon starts around 7.30 am at Galley Hill and is where most of the action will be centred. Both the transition area and the swim will be in this area.

The cycle race is to Cooden and back, and the run will be along the promenade to Channel View West.

For further information visit the website at: www.bexhill-triathlon.co.uk

Bexhill Lions would like to thank the following for all their help and support:Marathon runner Derek Stevens Rother Council Chief Executive, Adrian Gaylon the Rother Sports Development Officer, Dean Baker of St Mary's School Triathlon Club, Russell Varney of St Richard's School, the Police for help with traffic management plans, Tonbridge Lions Club who have run successful Triathlons for several years, Eric Hardwick of Hastings Lions with his marathon experience, Graham Baldwin of Uckfield Lions for Safety advice, and the British Triathlon Federation.

Practical support '“ either manpower, goods, facilities or sponsorship '“ is being supplied by St Richard's School with both registration and parking, the St Richard's Rotary Interact students, Bexhill Sailing Club with rescue boats, Bexhill Rowing Club, The Sea Angling Club, the Air Training Corps, 1066 Swimmers, Hastings Runners, Hastings Lifeguards, the Red Cross, Hastings Local, Honey Barrett, Tesco, Dennis Parkinson, TriStore, Sage UK, Active Rother, The Cooden Beach Hotel, The Mermaid, Northern Hotel, Dunselma Hotel, Bexhill Gearboxes, Wilsons Process Systems, Body Junction, MJS Skips, Burgess & Co, Absolute Hire & Sales, Discover Bexhill, Powerbar, Tri UK , Horley Lions Club who will be arranging catering, and all the Bexhill Lions.