The Gauntlet at Cholmondeley Castle
Malpas, United Kingdom · June · Castle Race Series (Independent)
Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 96 km (60 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run, not the usual 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run. Advertised 1.9 km (1.2 mi) / 96 km (60 mi) / 21 km (13.1 mi); the bike was shortened in 2024.
Why people love it
- Quiet, fast Cheshire lanes in short 14 km (8.7 mi) laps passing through the castle grounds
- Run through the castle estate with a crowd-lined finish and free cheese on toast for Gauntlet finishers
- Friendly marshals and strong aid are a constant in reviews
- Part of a well-run castle series with all-day event village
Watch out for
- Shallow, weedy lake: reviewers across 2023 to 2026 complain about poor water quality
- Run mixes grass, gravel and a steep path; tough on knees
- Gravel on some bike corners in 2023; drafting rules hard to follow with shared courses
- Spectators were charged 8 GBP in 2026
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.3
More than 30 half-distance reviews from 2023 to 2026 are mostly 4.4 to 5.0, praising marshals, organisation and the castle setting. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Clear information, smooth registration and abundant marshals; occasional minor issues like an unmanned bike corner or aid mix-up. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.2
Several first-time halves finished happily with supportive staff, but the run is tough and the swim is shallow and weedy. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.1
Fast, quiet bike laps but a hilly, uneven run and weed-affected swim. · Medium confidence
- Course easeVery tough2.4
Reviewers describe a challenging run and rolling bike. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.0
Usually wetsuit-legal for the Gauntlet; in 2025 a heatwave made it a decision on the day. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.3
Water was warm in 2025 and weedy; no temperature data was published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.5
Enclosed estate lake with no chop; shallow areas churn up. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.8
Shallow turns, poor visibility and weed make contact and navigation harder. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceMeh2.2
Several reviewers call the water quality awful, weedy and muddy in dry years. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Quiet roads but gravel and sand on some corners were noted in 2023. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Open lanes but very quiet, with marshals at junctions. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Cheshire castle grounds and countryside. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
No wind complaints. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.9
Reviewers describe very quiet, fast country lanes in 14 km (8.7 mi) laps. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.4
Undulating with a few nasty climbs per lap; no elevation total published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.3
Short laps with several turns; gravel at corners prompted caution. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Spectators close by in the castle grounds but quiet elsewhere; marshals are standout. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Well-stocked stations praised, with paper cups and good nutrition support. · High confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.4
Run through the castle grounds repeatedly praised. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.7
Grass, gravel and a steep path after a long bike. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.6
Steep path and a hill; reviewers call the run tough. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Late June can be humid or hot; no range published. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
Event has run each year; dry and wet conditions both reported. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.7
Castle grounds called stunning and fabulous. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Event village and castle passes help, but spectators pay 8 GBP and the field is small. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Malpas lies roughly 100 m (330 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Rural Cheshire; accommodation in Chester and Whitchurch. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No athletes discussed lodging cost. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
Camping is possible on site; transitions and parking close. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
About 65 km (40 mi) from Manchester airport. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.3
Minimal movement around the site and a single venue. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Event-village food stalls and nearby market towns. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Malpas, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 26 June 2027
- Organiser
- Castle Race Series (Independent)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 96 km (60 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Cholmondeley Castle lake (lake)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- wave
- Key climbs
- A few nasty climbs per a 2023 finisher
- Run shade
- parkland
- Nearest airport
- Manchester (MAN), 65 km (40 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Chester, Whitchurch
- Booking
- Rural Cheshire; camp or stay in Chester or Whitchurch.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceCheck: Hayley K.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Enjoyable and well organised. Great cycle route, friendly marshals, a challenging but scenic run and well-stocked aid with paper cups. The swim water quality was awful and she could not see other swimmers.
- RaceCheck: Michael H.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Smooth, well-planned organisation with friendly, encouraging marshals. Downsides were an 8 GBP charge for spectators and weedy water that hindered the swim.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Calls it fabulous, superbly organised with the friendliest marshals. After a heatwave the Gauntlet allowed wetsuits; the lake was warm and shallow at the edges.
- RaceCheck: Emma D.Raced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
First Castle Race Series event and a great experience: clear information, smooth registration, plenty of marshals, well-stocked aid stations and beautiful grounds.
- RaceCheck: Joanne H.Raced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Veteran of the series, first Gauntlet. Wanted a toilet stop on the bike and clarity on wetsuits, otherwise slick organisation, stunning scenery, great marshals and a welcome at the finish.
Show 8 more
- RaceCheck: Catherine W.Raced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
First Castle event: fantastic, not overwhelming like an IRONMAN. The bike and run were quiet and lonely for lack of spectators, and run arrows were slightly confusing.
- RaceCheck: Connor M.Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Good event with room for improvement: parts of the swim were too shallow to swim, the turn buoy sat in knee-high water and the swim caps kept slipping off.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Lack of rain turned parts of the swim into a wade through mud. The bike is superb: 14 km (8.7 mi) laps on very quiet fast lanes with spectators close by in the castle grounds. A lovely run with one hill and free cheese on toast for Gauntlet finishers.
- RaceCheck: AnonymousRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Loved the shorter new bike route on very quiet, fast lanes, though drafting rules became hard to follow as other races joined. Shallow lake churned up in the first 200 m (656 ft), great run with extra aid stations.
- RaceCheck: Simon R.Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Second time at the Gauntlet. Liked the shorter bike route but still dislikes the steep run path that hurts his knees; post-race food could be better for the cost.
- RaceCheck: James H.Raced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Superbly organised with amazing support and carefully devised nutrition. Wants a road sweep because gravel on several bike corners made riding risky.
- RaceCheck: Jules P.Raced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Great swim, a bike with a few nasty climbs but mostly undulating through beautiful scenery, and a tough run. Sense of achievement at a crowd-lined finish; you need to be well prepared.
- RaceCheck: Liz W.Raced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
First half: swampy swim after a dry spell, gorgeous cycle with castles, and a tough run with grass and gravel in humidity. One bike marshal was sitting rather than directing.
Sources
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