Bishopton Triathlon
Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom · August · Independent (U Prevail Events)
Course: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 42 km (26.1 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run. 1.5 km / 42 km / 10 km (0.93 / 26.1 / 6.2 mi); over-18s only.
Why people love it
- Lake no deeper than 1.5 m (5 ft), so most of the swim is standable.
- Sheltered, flat water and wave starts suit first-timers.
- On-site parking, toilets and changing rooms, with race-morning registration only.
- Lapped run on site means spectators and marshals stay close.
Watch out for
- Run is gravel and uneven grass, not ideal for a personal best.
- Bike roads are open to traffic, and one reviewer reported rough surfaces.
- A hot August could make the shallow lake too warm for wetsuits.
- Registration is race morning only, from 06:00.
- British Triathlon membership or a race pass is required.
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
Racecheck 4.6 out of 5 from 54 ratings, with warm praise from mostly self-selected reviewers. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.3
Staff, safety and communication scored very high, and a reviewer said the organiser improved on the previous year. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
Two swim laps and 42 km (26 mi) bike; a first-Olympic reviewer rated it highly. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Uneven four-lap run. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.4
Shallow lake warms fast; a hot August could pass 24.6 °C (76.3 °F); temperature not published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.8
Warm shallow water likely 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F) in August; not measured. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.9
Sheltered, shallow man-made lake, flat. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
Two laps, standable, some congestion. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Clear, shallow water; one reviewer found the swim slightly congested. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.7
Option to stand almost everywhere, wave starts, event safety 4.81/5. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
One reviewer reports rough surfaces. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.5
Open roads with marshals; not confirmed closed. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.6
Quiet roads around local villages; 'beautiful course' praise. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Open country roads; not discussed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.7
Fast roads. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.2
Two laps repeat the three climbs. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
Few turns per organiser. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Lapped on-site run keeps spectators and supporters close. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
Aid stations 4.59/5 from 44 ratings. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Lake and farmland views. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.9
Four laps on uneven surface. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.8
Four laps on lake paths. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.4
Late-August highs about 21 °C (70 °F), lows 12 °C (54 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Changeable UK summer. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.5
Wake park lake and farmland; modest. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySee them often4.5
On-site lapped run, garden games, coffee van. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
About 30 m (98 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Stockton and Yarm hotels; few details found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
North East prices; few details found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.3
On-site parking; transition, swim and finish at one venue. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.5
Teesside Airport 25 km (16 mi); Darlington and Stockton rail. · Low confidence
- LogisticsVery simple4.5
Race-morning registration, on-site parking, toilets and changing, one transition. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Stockton-on-Tees and Yarm; few details found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 22 August 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (U Prevail Events)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 42 km (26.1 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Bishopton Lake, North East Wake Park (lake)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Three climb segments on a course used for British Cycling and TT events
- Run laps
- 4
- Run shade
- mixed
- Air temperature
- 12–21 °C (54–70 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 30 m (98 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Teesside International Airport (MME), 25 km (16 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Stockton-on-Tees, Yarm
- Booking
- On-site parking, toilets, changing rooms, coffee van and recovery tent. Registration only on race morning from 06:00; transition 06:00 to 07:15; Olympic swim about 07:30, sprint 08:00.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (Bishopton Triathlon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 54 ratings averaging 4.6/5 (4.66 in 2026), with ten 2026 reviews read, mostly sprint plus a few Olympic. Reviewers agree on supportive marshals, a welcoming and well-run event with good announcements and music, and strong beginner suitability (46% say ideal for beginners). Bike is undulating on quiet, well-marked roads, though one reviewer noted rough surfaces. Complaints are minor: a slightly congested lake swim, uneven grass on the run, and a lack of age-group podium recognition for small fields. Lowest scores are swag, navigation and facilities.
“super beginner friendly”
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Sources
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