Pro race hotting up at The Bastion UK

Friday 11 July 2014
The first edition of a new, iconic iron-distance race – The Bastion, is set for this Sunday 13th July and this new prestigious title and the £10,000 prize pot, has attracted some of the best triathletes in the country to Hever Castle, Kent, ready to take on the mammoth 140.6 mile swim, bike and run course.

Chief threat in the men’s field is a multiple Ironman champion and current Scottish champion, Fraser Cartmell. Fraser comes into the race buoyed from some decent results in Europe and with the Scottish title fresh on his mantelpiece.

Fraser Cartmell said:

“I’m really looking forward to it. Hever Castle is a stunning location, albeit a brutal one for the athletes. I’m just hoping the weather will be kind as that makes all the difference.”

The women’s title is looking no less competitive; with the win looking like it will be going to Scotland here as well. The battle for the women’s title is likely to be between professional triathlete and reigning Scottish champion Alice Hector, against Team Freespeed’s top amateur and recent qualifier for the Ironman World Championships in Ali Rowatt.

Alice Hector said:

“As a new pro I need iron-distance experience and this race came up on my radar last minute, but it ticks all the boxes. I’m fit, healthy and more-or-less ready.

The organisers couldn’t be more friendly and welcoming. The race is set in a beautiful location. The prize money is very respectable, and they cater for everyone, from children through to beginners and elites. They do it all and I am really impressed – it is just what domestic racing needs.”

Designed by an ex-Royal Marine, each leg of The Bastion has been carefully planned to offer the ultimate challenge for both newcomers to long-distance triathlon and experienced long-course hands, ensuring that there will be plenty of drama played out over the day and across the 140.6 mile course.

With this stunning backdrop location, tough course and an unbelievable race package for all competitors, The Bastion is set to become a ‘must-do’ iron-distance triathlon.

The unique swim has been hailed by some competitors who have visited Hever Castle triathlon before as ‘the best open water swim ever experienced’. The 3.8 kilometre swim course leaves from the Italianate loggia taking competitors down the length of the main lake before passing the Japanese tea house and heading into the scenic river section.

The 180km three loop bike course represents arguably the toughest iron-distance route on offer in the UK, with around 2,000 metres of ascent covering ‘areas of outstanding beauty’ in the High Weald of Kent before passing through Hartfield and over the Ashdown Forest.

The four lap run route is mainly an off road trail run. It circumnavigates the two stunning estates of Hever and Chiddingstone Castles before an iconic finish in-front of the Hever Castle drawbridge that once gave passage to King Henry VIII into one of his Royal homes.

All entrants will fully earn their finishers medal, premium branded ruck-sack, branded sports body warmer, Speedo towel and Buff Original headwear. The recovery after this epic challenge begins immediately after with a complimentary hot meal and free sports massage, plus the rights to accurately claiming a place in history by having taken part in the first ever Bastion Triathlon at Hever Castle.

The race will can also claim to be offering one of the biggest prize purses in the UK, with the winners taking home £2,500 and the total prize purse amounting to £10,000. Further prizes will be for the top-3 male and female competitors in the 40+, 50+ and 60+ categories.

You can follow live coverage of the race via Twitter (@CastleTriathlon)and Facebook or by following the hashtag ‘#BastionTri2014’.

You can view a course preview video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auEA3KkV8Jc
Castle Triathlon Series


Coming Triathlon Events View all

Challenge Sir Bani Yas

Sir Baniyas Island, United Arab Emirates

Kiwiman Xtreme

New Plymouth, New Zealand

Strongman

Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan

Challenge Taiwan

Taitung City, Taiwan, China

Himalayan Xtreme

Pokhara, Nepal

Grizzlyman Xtri

Beskydy, Czech Republic

Mediterranean Epic

Oropesa del Mar, Spain

Pirene Xtreme

Cellers, Lleida, Spain

FrenchMan

Carcans, France

AlpsMan

Annecy, France

Ironman Taiwan

Penghu, Taiwan, China

Ironman Texas

The Woodlands, Texas, United States

Ironman Australia

Port Macquarie, Australia

Ironman Lanzarote

Canary Islands, Spain

Ironman Brazil

Florianopolis, Brazil

Ironman Hamburg

Hamburg, Germany

Ironman Cairns

Cairns, Australia

Ironman Austria

Klagenfurt, Austria

Ironman Les Sables d Olonne

Les Sables d’Olonne, France

Ironman France

Nice, France

Alpha Win Napa Valley

Napa Valley, CA, United States

Challenge Florianopolis

Florianopolis, Brazil

Setubal Triathlon

Setubal, Portugal

Challenge Cerrado

Brasília, Brazil

Portocolom International

Mallorca, Spain

Challenge Mogan Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria, Spain

Alpha Win Lake San Antonio

Lake San Antonio CA, United States

Cannes International

Cannes, France

Wildflower

Lake San Antonio CA, United States

Challenge Gallipoli

Gallipoli, Turkey

70.3 Oceanside

Oceanside, California, United States

70.3 Texas

Galveston Island, Texas, United States

70.3 San Juan

San Juan, Argentina

70.3 Brasilia

Brasília, Brazil

70.3 Peru

Lima, Peru

70.3 Valencia

Valencia, Spain

70.3 Cap Cana

Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

70.3 Venice jesolo

Venice Jesolo, Italy

70.3 Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

70.3 Mallorca

Mallorca, Spain

Triathlon News & Media Blogs View all

Magnus Ditlev (DEN) & Anne Reischmann (DEU) Take Wins at IRONMAN South Africa

Magnus Ditlev (DEN) & Anne Reischmann (DEU) Take Wins at IRONMAN South Africa

Sunday 30 Mar 2025 [Triathlon News]

Magnus Ditlev of Denmark and Anne Reischmann of Germany are victorious in the first full distance IRONMAN® triathlon of the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series. In an exciting day of racing at the 20th anniversary of ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship triathlon, Ditlev and Reischmann walked away with 5,000 Pro Series points, $28,000 USD each, and a regional championship title to boot. more

IRONMAN South Africa Pro Series Start List

IRONMAN South Africa Pro Series Start List

Friday 28 Mar 2025 [Triathlon News]

On Sunday 30 March, 70 of the world’s top professional triathletes will converge in Nelson Mandela Bay for the very first IRONMAN Pro Series™ race on the African continent. The ISUZU IRONMAN® South Africa African Championship triathlon will offer professional athletes a total prize purse of USD $175,000, with the male and female winner each enjoying a USD $28,000 pay day as well as 5,000 IRONMAN Pro Series points. more

Jelle Geens (BEL) & Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) Claim IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong Titles

Jelle Geens (BEL) & Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) Claim IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong Titles

Sunday 23 Mar 2025 [Triathlon News]

The IRONMAN® 70.3® Geelong triathlon launched the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series™ with a bang, with close racing and tight battles highlighting the day, with reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Jelle Geens and Australia’s Natalie Van Coevorden the best athletes on the day as they claimed victory in the and men’s and women’s races. As winners of IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong, Geens and Van Coevorden will each take home USD $7,500 and 2,500 IRONMAN Pro Series points. more

Strong Professional Men’s Field Ready for IRONMAN Pro Series 70.3 Geelong Battle

Strong Professional Men’s Field Ready for IRONMAN Pro Series 70.3 Geelong Battle

Friday 21 Mar 2025 [Triathlon News]

A reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, a host of Olympians and a defending champion highlight the professional men’s field for Sunday’s IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong, kicking off the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series. Sunday’s race will see 43 male professional triathletes line up on Eastern Beach in Geelong to take on the 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run before a champion is crowned in Steampacket Gardens. Reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Jelle Geens headlines the men’s field. more

Top Female Pro Triathletes Set to Light up 70.3 Geelong as IRONMAN Pro Series Kicks Off

Top Female Pro Triathletes Set to Light up 70.3 Geelong as IRONMAN Pro Series Kicks Off

Thursday 20 Mar 2025 [Triathlon News]

The 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series roars into life this Sunday 23 March at IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong, with a host of the top female professional athletes from across the region and further abroad set to go head-to-head for the title. New Zealand’s Hannah Berry is the top seeded female in the field and returns to a race she’s had success at in the past, having stood on the top step of the podium at IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong in 2020. more

Facebook


YouTube


Sign up for FREE NEWSLETTER:

We will never share your email address or spam you.