Blithfield Triathlon & Aquabike
Blithfield Reservoir, Abbots Bromley, United Kingdom · August · Independent (PMA Racing)
Course: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 39 km (24.2 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run. 1.5 km (0.93 mi) / 39 km (24.2 mi) / 10 km (6.2 mi)
Why people love it
- Two-lap 1.5 km (0.93 mi) deep-water reservoir swim, with men and women starting about 8 minutes apart
- Flat run: 22 m (72 ft) of climbing over 10 km (6.2 mi)
- Free camping beside transition and a clean sailing club base
- Athletes repeatedly praise the friendly, knowledgeable marshals
Watch out for
- Bike road surface drew complaints in 2025 and 2026
- Swim edges were green after the 2026 drought
- The run joins the dam causeway at a single-width pinch point
- Too few toilets at the start and little food on site
- A sprint ran in 2025, but only the Olympic is listed for 2026
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
Athletes rate it highly: 4.52 out of 5 from 37 reviews, praising friendly marshals. Scores on that site run high, so trimmed slightly. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Briefing, signage and marshals get praise. Gripes: too few toilets at the start, unchecked bike removal in transition, aquabike swim congestion. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
Olympic distance with a deep-water swim. Some reviewers are repeat racers, one in a third year. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Rolling 39 km (24.2 mi) bike with 355 m (1,165 ft) of climbing, and a flat 10 km (6.2 mi) run. Average for an Olympic. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.2
Wetsuits were mandatory in 2022 with water near 18 to 19 °C (64 to 66 °F). A hot summer could change that. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.9
Expect about 18 to 19 °C (64 to 66 °F) in August. Water quality scores well, but 2026 swimmers found green edges after drought. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
Sheltered inland reservoir. No reviewer complained of chop. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.4
Two laps in deep water. One aquabike swimmer lost rhythm in congestion. Men and women start about 8 minutes apart. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
Reservoir swim from a sailing club base, with clean facilities. Algae at the edges in 2026 took the shine off. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.7
Marshals helped swimmers out of the water in 2025 and starts are split by sex. Kayak numbers are not published. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.7
Two reviewers, in 2025 and 2026, criticised the road surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Roads appear to stay open, with marshals on course. No source states a closure. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5
Rural Staffordshire lanes around the reservoir. Reviewers did not single out the scenery. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Open reservoir country in Staffordshire. Wind did not come up in reviews. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.4
Two laps of a rolling 39 km (24.2 mi) loop, called relatively fast. Most reviewers describe it as undulating. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.1
355 m (1,165 ft) of climbing over 39 km (24.2 mi): rolling, short of hilly (400 m / 1,300 ft or more). · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Two simple laps, well signed and marshalled according to a 2026 reviewer. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.9
Small local field. Praise goes to marshals rather than spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
A feed station is listed. One reviewer in 2025 asked for more food and drink on site. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.9
The run crosses the reservoir dam wall with water views. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.7
Two laps of mixed trail and road over the dam wall. The causeway is a single-width pinch point. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.6
Only 22 m (72 ft) of climbing over 10 km (6.2 mi), and reviewers call the run flat and fast. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Mid-August highs are usually 17 to 23 °C (63 to 73 °F). This is a regional estimate, not from race reports. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Inland English summer with no reported cancellations. The 2026 drought did affect the water. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.6
Rural reservoir with a plain but clean sailing club base. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Two-lap format lets spectators see the swim and transition. The run is out and back. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
The reservoir sits at about 80 m (260 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Rural area with pubs and B&Bs, and Rugeley and Uttoxeter nearby. Most athletes drive in. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No price data found. Two reviewers mention free camping next to transition. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
Free camping beside transition. Swim, transition and finish are all at the sailing club base. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
Rural and drive-in. Birmingham airport is about 55 km (34 mi) away by road. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
One base at the sailing club with free camping and organiser-run parking. Reviewers rate the facilities very highly. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine2.8
Rural village area. A 2025 reviewer found few food vendors on site. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Blithfield Reservoir, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 16 August 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (PMA Racing)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 39 km (24.2 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Blithfield Reservoir, Blithfield Sailing Club base (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 18–19 °C (64–66 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Mandatory per a 2022 listing; 2026 rule not published
- Swim start
- wave start with male and female swims split by about 8 minutes
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike climbing
- 355 m (1,160 ft)
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run climbing
- 22 m (72 ft)
- Run laps
- 2
- Air temperature
- 12–23 °C (54–73 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 80 m (260 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Birmingham (BHX), 55 km (34 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Abbots Bromley, Rugeley, Uttoxeter
- Booking
- Free camping next to transition per two Racecheck reviews; distance to airport is an approximate road estimate.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (37 reviews)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 4.52 out of 5 from 37 reviews, covering the standard triathlon, aquabike and a sprint run in earlier years. Athletes like the friendly feel, marshals, free camping and clean facilities. Complaints: green swim edges after drought (2026), road surface, swim congestion for the aquabike wave, toilet queues, a causeway pinch point on the run, and unchecked bike removal in transition.
“Another excellent event from PMA, always a good alternative to a Sunday lie-in”
Raced Blithfield Triathlon & Aquabike? 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 Blithfield Triathlon & Aquabike? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.