Hundreds of athletes from across the UK and overseas braved warm conditions to complete the gruelling IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire triathlon event.
It returned to Staffordshire after a one-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. All athletes needed to fill in a pre-event health questionnaire and have their temperature screened on arrival. A Staffordshire County Council testing van was situated on Riverway in Stafford.
Staffordshire County Council leader Alan White said:
“It’s been fantastic to welcome so many athletes to Staffordshire who have all done so well over a gruelling event and particularly in such warm weather.
“After a year’s absence due to the pandemic it has been great to see IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire return, with participants and their families coming to enjoy the county, many for the first time.
“We’d like to thank all athletes who had taken a lateral flow test before the event to keep people safe and to spectators who have watched in accordance with current guidelines.
“We’d also like to thank local residents and businesses around the route for their understanding through the closures period, and to the IRONMAN team for running the event smoothly.”
The race was won by Hugh Brashaw in a time of 4hrs 7mins. After a one-lap swim at Chasewater, the athletes then took the 56-mile cycle route through Staffordshire countryside. The half-marathon distance run was a two-and-a-half loop run route around the centre of Stafford, taking in Stafford Castle and finishing in the Market Square.
