XTERRA returns to UK

Issue ID: January 2013

The organisers of the Vachery Triathlon Festival have confirmed that they will host Xterra’s UK comeback in 2013. The event is the first time the off-road series will have been held in the UK since Neath in 2008 and takes place on 8 September in Surrey.

Negotiations between the Vachery race team and Xterra, based in Hawaii, began in March 2012 and Vachery played host to the Scott Xtri Series during its August Bank Holiday Triathlon Festival.

The small-scale test event was won by Richard Stannard (pictured) and Rachel Clay, and took place on a course designed by Britain’s top male off-roader, Sam Gardner. The race saw competitors swim in the spring-fed Vachery Pond before a bike/run combo around the 1,500-acre private estate near the Surrey Hills.

The Xterra England Championship event will offer 40 qualifying slots for the 2013 World Championship in Maui, Hawaii, where Javier Gomez and Lesley Paterson will look to retain their titles.

It’ll also be the last European event before Maui, so the organisers are hoping for a strong European contingent and age-grouper field among the anticipated 1,000 athletes taking part. Sprint 750m/15km/5km), full (1.5km/30km/10km) and relay events are on offer along with single-discipline races.

Head to xterra-england.co.uk for more on the 220-partnered event.

Image: Mike Anton / SussexSportPhotography.com

Matt Baird Editor of Cycling Plus magazine

About

Matt is a regular contributor to 220 Triathlon, having joined the magazine in 2008. He’s raced everything from super-sprint to Ironman, duathlons and off-road triathlons, and can regularly be seen on the roads and trails around Bristol. Matt is the author of Triathlon! from Aurum Press and is now the editor of Cycling Plus magazine.