Lakesman triathlon takes place this weekend in the Lake District and Cumberland Council has been announced as the principle race partner.
The event is set to host the British Championships and English Championships on Sunday, June 15.
It first took place in 2016 and is a partnership between the authority, Better and Lakesman Events Ltd, which organises the event each year.
It is made up of a 1.2-mile swim in Derwentwater, a 56-mile bike ride and a lapped half-marathon in and around Keswick.
Following the main event on Sunday 15 June, the official presentation and VIP reception will be held at Keswick Rugby Club from 3.30pm.
It will celebrate the achievements of all participants, recognise category winners, and offer exclusive media and networking opportunities.
The event’s reputation continues to grow, with more than 1,000 athletes participating annually from across the UK and beyond. Its recent accolade as the Best of the Best Triathlon by Racecheck, a leading race review platform, underscores its rising global prominence.
Marie Whitehead, event director, added: “It’s a first for Cumbria to host the British or English championships and Lakesman 2025 has them both.
“We fully expect this to take the event to over 1,000 athletes and in 2024 with 750 athletes towing the line, the economic impact showed it was over £2m into the area.
“The best amateur athletes in the country will be racing, which is a great opportunity for our beginners to race alongside them, as well as inspire future generations to take part in sport.
“As well as direct economic impact into the area, we also have a strong policy to use local businesses, for example our medals and trophies are handcrafted by Lakeland Slate which is less than 100 metres from the finish line.
“We use Cumbrian companies for over 95% of our kit and equipment and only go outside the county if it’s not available in Cumbria.
“We support over 20 local organisations, sports clubs and charities, and donate left over food, kit and equipment to charities in Keswick and Allerdale.”
Martin Horne, Partnership Manager for GLL, the charitable social enterprise that operates more than 240 Better leisure centres in the UK including 12 in Cumberland, added:
“On behalf of Better, I’m thrilled to see the Lakesman Triathlon take centre stage as the British and English Middle Distance Triathlon Championships.
“We’ve been proud partners of this incredible event since its inception in 2016, and it’s amazing to witness how it has grown in prestige and popularity. The spirit, dedication, and community that define The Lakesman align perfectly with our values, and we look forward to another unforgettable event for athletes and spectators alike.”
On Saturday, June 14 at 11am, the Lakesman spirit extends to younger athletes with the return of the Kids’ Race.
Some temporary parking restrictions will be in place at the Lakeside car park in Keswick, near Theatre by the Lake.
From around 9am on Thursday 18 June, a section of the car park near the mountain rescue building will be closed.
From Friday 19 June until Monday 22 June until around 12pm, the full site will be closed off. The site will be reopened gradually in sections for public use.
The event team are expected to be fully off the site by 12pm on Tuesday 23 June.
Alternative parking sites are available in Keswick.
