If you are looking to train for an event, want a goal to aim for in 2008 or simply wish to test your competitive edge there are many opportunities for participating in triathlon throughout the country in 2008. One of the new events on the calendar is the Rother Valley Triathlon Festival which gives participants the opportunity to race in 7 differing distances and type of events.  The British Triathlon Federation is proud to have the National Disabled Triathlon Championship as one of the events, the first such championship to be held in the UK and the centre piece of the weekend.    

Rother Valley Triathlon Festival Launch - Now Open For Entries*  

The Rother Valley Triathlon Festival was launched on Monday 3 December with the  help of children from the Brinsworth Manor Infants School and 15 local  triathletes who braved the 1 degree ice cold water to demonstrate to  The Mayor of Rotherham, the media and a number of representatives from  the local area what triathlon is all about.

  Rother Valley Triathlon Festival Launch  

Entries are now open so it is your turn to join this competitive yet friendly sport and put your fitness to the test by entering the Rother Valley Triathlon Festival 2008, which brings the dynamic sport of triathlon to the nation's athletes and the local  community, young and old. This new event will be host to the first  ever British Disabled Triathlon Championships which promises to be a  spectacular occasion not only for Rotherham but for the sport of Triathlon.

There will be seven individual events across the weekend; the first four will be on the Saturday all based within the grounds of the park with the final three events held on the Sunday with the sprint and standard distance events using the surrounding roads. The park will also be hosting numerous other activities for those that just want to watch.  

Photograph Courtesy of Nigel Farrow

Programme for the weekend:  

*Event 1: Scootathlon* (400 metre run, 300 metre scoot, 200 metre run). This event will be open to children between the ages of five to eight years old.  

*Event 2: Children's Triathlon* (50 metre shallow swim, 2.5km cycle, 1500 metre run). This event will be open to children between the ages of eight to 15 years old.  

*Event 3: Women's Only Super Sprint Distance Triathlon* (200 metre swim, 10km cycle, 5km run). This event will be exclusive to female participants.  

Photograph Courtesy of Nigel Farrow

*Event 4: Community Super Sprint Distance Triathlon* (200 metre swim, 10km cycle, 5km run). This event will be competitively priced to encourage new people into the sport. It will also be accessible for athletes with a disability.  

*Event 5: Sprint Distance Triathlon* (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run). The swim will take place in the park's main lake. The bike section will use the surrounding roads to the park. The run section will be kept within the grounds of the park allowing for unrestricted viewing for the media and spectators.  

*Event 6: Standard / Olympic Distance Triathlon* (1500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run). The standard distance event will follow the same format as Event 5 simply completing double the laps for each section.   

*Event 7: British Disabled Triathlon Championships* (750 metre swim, 20km cycle, 5km run). This will be the first ever British Disabled Triathlon Championships. The event will be contained within the park to provide safe traffic free racing.

This is the first multi sport triathlon event organised by One Step Beyond Promotions, in association with The British Triathlon Federation, The Rotherham Advertiser and The Metropolitan Borough Council. It is a weekend of sport for all and continues to promote the ever increasing interest and opportunity in this great sport. 

For more information visit www.britishtriathlon.orgor pacesetterevents.com