Derby College Backs Team Challenge at Jenson Button Trust Triathlon – Sunday July 23

Derby College Backs Team Challenge at Jenson Button Trust Triathlon – Sunday July 23

Five teams of three from Derby College are amongst the 20 teams who have signed up for the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon team challenge at Derby’s Markeaton Park on Sunday July 23.

The Derby College teams are all made up of first-time or novice triathletes who have come together with the aim of raising more than £1,000 for this year’s charity partner Barnardo’s.

Funds raised will go to the charity’s Leaving Care Services in Derbyshire which aims to bridge the gap for children between living in care and the adult world.

The service, based in Heanor, helps young people secure permanent accommodation, supports them with the life skills they need to look after themselves and remains available to offer support and counselling if necessary.

Oliver Stonier is Derby College’s International and Employer Partnerships Manager who was among the team of colleagues who raised more than £1,300 last year for Cancer Research UK.

He said: “We all thoroughly enjoyed the race and then the festival vibe throughout the day so I am delighted that we have five teams competing again this year.”

Race director Claire Duffin from Derby-based HUUB Events, added: “The excitement is certainly building for the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon on July 23.

“We have attracted a wide range of entries from complete novices to seasoned and professional triathletes and I think the Team Challenge will be a particularly close and exciting race to the finish.”

Teams and individuals have until 12 noon on Wednesday July 19 to enter the event and have the chance to compete alongside former F1 champion Jenson Button.

On the day everyone will get the chance to race twice. The preliminary will consist of a 200m swim in Markeaton Lake; 10km cycle from the park and on closed roads into the city’s Cathedral Quarter before returning to the park to complete a 2.5km run.

In the individual event, the top male and female performers will then go on to the finals – completing a 400m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run, with the runners-up entering the wooden spoon race.  

The Team Challenge participants will race again in the afternoon over the Super Sprint distance and the team with the fastest average time will emerge victorious.

The prize fund available to competitors is one of the largest for a UK based sprint triathlon. A grand total of £7,000 will be on offer, split between the male and female categories.

Back by popular demand there will be a free to enter family triathlon in the park which has been entered so far by 100 children aged between seven and 15, accompanied by an adult. 

This consists of a 50m swim in the lake then heading out onto the closed roads for a 2.5km cycle before a 750m run – crossing the same finishing line as the JBTT triathletes. 

Also in the lunch time break, this time in the city centre, there will be a children’s criterium hosted by Cycle Derby CC with young people taking part in a series of races around closed roads in the Cathedral Quarter.

Spectators are invited to join in the fun.  As well as the opportunity to watch the competitors in action, a wide range of family activities will also be held at the event village set up in Markeaton Park where they will be music and locally produced food and drink stalls. The day will culminate in medal presentations by Jenson Button.

The event’s headline sponsor is Santander who work closely with Jenson as one of their brand ambassadors and the event is supported by Derby City Council.

To enter the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon on Sunday July 23 and for more information, please visit www.jensonbuttontri.com and, for latest news and training tips, please follow on Twitter @JBTrustTri

For support on how to raise money for Barnardo’s please email  jensonbuttontriathlon@barnardos.org.uk. Everyone competing in the triathlon can request a special fundraising pack and can donate via the entry system or by creating a Just Giving page.

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