a day ago
Entries flooding in for Montgomery Canal Triathlon 2025
Entries for this year's Montgomery Canal Triathlon are already coming in from across Britain.
The cross-border event, which is usually held in May, will take place on September 6 this year in a bid to see if this is a more suitable time of the year for the event.
It was last held in September in 2021 as Covid restrictions eased.
And that's not all that's changing this year. Regulars will see some changes to the event as the Friends of the Montgomery Canal simplify the administration for the organising volunteers, while continuing restoration of the canal in Shropshire means the finish will be at a different location this year too.
The popular, family-friendly event welcomes people from across the country each year to travel 27-mile of the canal from Newtown to Maesbury Marsh on bike, canoe and on foot.
Entrants, who can take part in one, two or all three sections, will set off from Newtown on bicycles and change to canoes near Whitehouse Bridge, Welshpool (thanks to the generous permission of Powis Estates) to paddle five miles through the centre of Welshpool.
Canoes will be left at Pool Quay ready for the final 10 miles on foot, and on the way entrants will be able to see where contractors are at work to create a new canalside nature reserve and to build a new highway bridge across the canal.
After crossing the border at Llanymynech the entrants will see the progress now being made by volunteers reinstating the canal channel.
As the canal and towpath can only take a limited number of entrants early booking is advised. There is an 'early bird' reduction in entry fees until July 13.
A spokesman for the Friends of the Montgomery Canal said: 'The triathlon is the year's biggest event on the Montgomery Canal with families and friends joining every year, many from a long way away.
"Already this year we have entries from Cornwall, west Wales, London and the east Midlands.
'The triathlon highlights everything that has already been achieved as today over half the canal has been reopened. On the way, participants will see where road crossings block the canal and where contractors are working to remove one of the blockages and to add another nature reserve to protect the canal's valued flora and fauna.
"As they approach the finish they will see the great progress of volunteer work parties restoring a section of the canal towards the new Schoolhouse Bridge.
'We are running the triathlon to support those volunteer work parties and each year the Friends of the Montgomery Canal is able to make a contribution from the proceeds of the event to the 'Restore the Montgomery Canal!' appeal.
'As usual, entrants who complete any section will receive a commemorative medallion of local slate, printed in gold for anyone who completes all three sections, silver for those who complete two, and bronze if only one section is completed.'
