The fourth edition of the Slateman Triathlon took place this weekend with 1,700 athletes converging in Snowdonia for an event that’s swiftly established itself as one of the biggest, toughest and, frankly, best triathlons in the UK.
Saturday saw nearly 500 triathletes and juniors embark on the Slateman Triathlon Sprint (400m swim/20km bike/6km run) event. Steve Stoneman and Pauline Griffin emerged as individual winners of the men’s and women’s Slateman Tri Sprint events, after storming around the course as part of the second wave of starters.
220 were amongst the 1,200-strong Full Slateman (1km/51km/11km) taking place under slightly less sunny skies on the Sunday. After 1,000m of swimming in the chilly yet beautiful Llyn Padarn, 51km on a bike course that wouldn’t look out of place at the Tour’s Pyrenees stages and a closing 11km quad-sapping trail run through a disused slate quarry, it was the 2013 Snowman Triathlon winner, Ewan Brown (pictured), who emerged victorious in Sunday’s men’s race. Brown also broke the course record in the process and edged 2013 Slateman winner Steve Skates into second place.
In the women’s event GB international Suzie Richards was dominant, leading for much of the race to come home over a minute clear of London athlete Natalie Seymour. 2013 Slateman runner-up Jane Hansom made up the podium, also bettering her 2013 time (2:49:55).
Event organisers Always Aim High also had a treat in store for the countless athletes, supporters and local community members who turned up in their thousands over the weekend with climbing walls, bouncy castles, slate painting workshops and live music providing the entertainment.
220, whose Matt can barely walk two days after completing the race, will be running a major feature on Slateman in issue 301 of the magazine, out on 24 June.
Full results via TDL Event Services link
Image: Mel Parry
