Brothers throw down the gauntlet

Olympic gold medallist Alistair has teamed up with his brother and world champion Jonny to host the inaugural Brownlee Triathlon in the county where they honed their remarkable skills.

One thousand entrants will get the chance to compete with the Brownlees at the picturesque World Heritage Sites of Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey on Saturday, September 21.

With no-one on the planet able to get close to the Brownlees in major international competitions, this is a unique opportunity for amateur and professional triathletes from Yorkshire and beyond to see how they fare against the county’s very own world’s best.

Organisers have called the Brownlee Triathlon a demonstration of the Olympic legacy at work, with two of the heroes of London 2012 playing their part in helping the sport of triathlon grow here in the White Rose. And Alistair is urging people to sign up and race the all-conquering brothers.

“One of the fantastic things about triathlon is that anybody can get involved,” said the Olympic champion.

“Especially this super-sprint distance that we’re using here. This is for men and women of all abilities, and we’re even talking about having a relay element to it, where one person swims, one person rides and the final member of the team runs.

“If we can get some schools involved as well, that would be fantastic.

“Everyone who races will see their time flash up on the scoreboard as they cross the line. Jonny and I are also trying to get some world-class athletes involved, to give them a taste of Yorkshire.

“The whole area around Fountains Abbey is fantastic to train as triathletes and a perfect fit for us.

“The paths and trails in the abbey’s estate are a lovely setting for a run, with great views of Ripon Cathedral and the Yorkshire Dales.

“The lanes close to the abbey are some of the best in the country for cycling.

“We’re very lucky in Yorkshire to have some of the finest countryside around, and Fountains Abbey is a great place to see a lot of it.”

The Brownlee Triathlon will start with a 400m swim in Studley Royal lake before a 10km bike ride takes competitors through the medieval deer park before culminating in a 2.5km run.

The run goes through Studley Royal water garden and the ruins of Fountains Abbey before finishing on the east green.

The race will be separated into waves of contestants, with different categories for men, women and age groups. There will also be a junior race for people aged over 14.

Jonny, 23, who won a bronze behind his brother in Hyde Park last summer and won the world title in Auckland two months later, added: “We want this triathlon to be part of our legacy and to see as many people take part as possible.

“It’s great to be holding our first Brownlee Triathlon at Fountains Abbey. As young children, our parents used to take us there for walks to try and wear us out so we have good memories of the place.”

The Brownlees have teamed up with the National Trust to launch their own triathlon.

Chris Fowler, National Trust general manager at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said: “This is going to be a unique event, not just for triathletes who will get to run through the iconic ruins, but for spectators too.

“We’re thrilled that Alistair and Jonny are combining their love of triathlon with this special place – one of their favourite stop-off points when out training.

“We want our visitors to come and enjoy the outdoors, feel closer to nature and be inspired, and the Brownlee Triathlon is just a fantastic way to do this.”

People interested in taking part can register for a place from 10am on Tuesday, June 4. Places are expected to sell out quickly.

For more information about the Brownlee Triathlon, visit www.brownleetriathlon.com and look out for updates through Twitter @Brownleetri or www.facebook.com/brownleetriathlon