Ironman Adds 70.3 Staffordshire To Calendar

The inaugural Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire triathlon will take place on June 14, 2015 in the heart of England, Ironman announced Monday.

Ironman says it will be one of the flattest, fastest triathlons on the calendar. The event will consist of a 1.2-mile swim in Chasewater reservoir and a 56-mile bike ride through the stunning countryside outside Lichfield, Burton-upon-Trent and across Cannock Chase area of outstanding natural beauty. The concluding 13.1-mile run will start and finish at the historic Shugborough country estate, the former ancestral home of Lord Lichfield, a renowned royal photographer and cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.

Kevin Stewart, Managing Director Ironman UK & Ireland, commented, “We are extremely excited to be expanding our Ironman 70.3 event calendar in response to demand from UK athletes. Our only other UK 70.3 event sold out last October, so we are sure that thousands of new athletes will be attracted to the sport by this new race.  Both the venue of Shugborough and surrounding area of Staffordshire offer the perfect platform in every aspect for the event and we very much look forward to developing a long and successful partnership with Staffordshire County Council.”

The race will offer a $15,000 USD professional prize purse and will be a P-500 race. Additionally, the race will offer 30 age-group qualifying slots for athletes to qualify for the 2015 Ironman 70.3 World Championship to be held in Europe for the first time, hosted by Zell am See, Austria.

Learn more about the event at Ironman.com/Staffordshire70.3.