#51fiver Cotswold Standard Distance Triathlon (I-Compete)
Ashton Keynes (Cotswold Water Park, Lake 32), United Kingdom · May · Independent (I-Compete Events)
Why people love it
- Racecheck rates it 4.71 out of 5 on 59 ratings; 86% of reviews say ideal for beginners.
- Very clear lake water, with a choice of mass or gradual swim start.
- Course marking and marshals scored 4.90 on Racecheck.
- Run is three flat laps on hard-packed trail around two lakes.
Watch out for
- Roads are open to traffic; a delayed start in 2025 brought busier roads.
- Aquabike finishers reported no finish carpet or trophies in 2026.
- Long gaps between swim buoys made sighting tricky in 2024.
- Remote lakeland site with no town amenities close by.
- Sells out most years, so check entry dates early.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.3
Racecheck 4.71 out of 5 on 59 ratings, 4.33 in 2026; praise for organisation, marshals and the clear lake. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.3
Marshalling and course marking praised, but aquabike finishers got no proper finish and a promised access support was missing. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.2
Many first Olympics reported; open roads and the 10 km (6.2 mi) run still make it a step up. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Flat run, open roads · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.3
Mid-May lake; likely wetsuit legal; World Triathlon limit 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.3
No temperature given; reviewers wanted a water temperature update; mid-May lakes are about 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F) · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.5
Sheltered gravel-pit lake · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.9
1.5 km (0.93 mi), clear water · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.3
Very clear lake water and a choice of mass or gradual start; sparse sighting buoys in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood4.2
Mass or gradual start, marshals, shallow edges · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
One 2025 pothole; otherwise no complaints · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.7
Open roads with an early start; reviewers said traffic was not a problem but busier after a delayed start · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.4
Village roads around Ashton Keynes on flat lakeland; few reviewers comment on the views. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Open lakeland · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.9
Village roads · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.8
Undulating per 56%; 40 km (24.9 mi) · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0
Course marking scored 4.90; marshalled · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
Finish carpet, archway and commentary; remote site means few spectators along the course. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
Racecheck aid stations scored 4.33; no bike aid reported. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.9
Lakes 31 and 32 · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.7
Three laps on trail · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
Flat 10 km (6.2 mi) trail · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Mid-May early morning, about 8 to 18 °C (46 to 64 °F), estimate · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.1
English spring weather; mist delayed a 2025 swim · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.6
Lakeland gravel-pit setting; reviewers praise the water more than the scenery. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Large festival atmosphere; finish carpet · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
About 85 m (279 ft) above sea level · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Remote lakeland; Cirencester and Swindon nearby · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Normal-ish; no data · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Race-day parking near the lake; remote site with little else walkable · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Bristol Airport about 80 km (50 mi); no station at the lake · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
Early start and a well-run event, but a remote site and a delayed 2025 start brought extra traffic. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Remote lakeland; villages nearby · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Ashton Keynes (Cotswold Water Park, Lake 32), Wiltshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 16 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (I-Compete Events)
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake 32, Cotswold Water Park (lake)
- Wetsuit
- Likely legal in May (Triathlon England follows World Triathlon, no wetsuit above 24.6 °C / 76.3 °F for swims up to 1,500 m)
- Swim start
- choice of mass start or gradual start (about three athletes every few seconds)
- Run laps
- 3
- Air temperature
- 8–18 °C (46–64 °F)
- Altitude
- 85 m (280 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bristol Airport, 80 km (50 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Cirencester, Cricklade, Swindon
- Booking
- Day-trip race with an early start; selling out most years per organiser listings.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck #51fiver Cotswold TriRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
59 ratings average 4.71 out of 5 (2026: 4.33); 86% tag it ideal for beginners and 67% a large festival atmosphere. Written reviews from 2024 to 2026 praise the organisation, marshals and course marking, very clear lake water, a first Olympic distance at 65, and the mass or gradual start choice. Complaints: aquabike entrants got no proper finish, a disabled athlete found promised access support missing, a pothole and busy roads on a delayed start, and sparse sighting buoys. Aid stations 4.33.
“A great race for first timer at this distance.”
Raced #51fiver Cotswold Standard Distance Triathlon (I-Compete)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for #51fiver Cotswold Standard Distance Triathlon (I-Compete)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.