Dambuster Triathlon (Rutland Water)

Oakham, United Kingdom · June · Independent (Pacesetter Events)

Why people love it

4.4Very good

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 shows 4.45/5 from 18 ratings; praise for organisation and the lake, small gripes on feed stations and medals. · Medium confidence
OrganizationWell run4.3
Reviewers from 2016 to 2024 praise the organisation; complaints are minor, such as too few feed stations and gravel to T1. · Medium confidence
First timer friendlyDoable3.4
Olympic 1.5 km (0.93 mi) swim and 40 km (25 mi) bike with short hills; the creek swim helps. · Low confidence

PR potentialAverage3.0
Rolling 40 km (25 mi) bike, flat 10 km (6.2 mi) run; average. · Low confidence

4.3Very good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalUsually4.3
British Triathlon follows World Triathlon (no wetsuit above 24.6 °C (76 °F) / 76.3 °F); June reservoir water rarely approaches that. · Low confidence
Water temperatureComfortable3.6
Water temperature not recorded; a June English reservoir is usually about 15 to 19 °C (59 to 66 °F). · Low confidence
Calm waterMostly calm4.3
Creek shelters the swim from wind; reviewers report calm water, some waves beyond the shelter in 2021. · Medium confidence
Swim easeEasy3.8
1.5 km (0.93 mi) in a sheltered creek. · Low confidence
Swim experienceGreat4.3
Reviewers describe clean, very clear water. · Medium confidence
Swim supportGood3.8
Sheltered creek at a watersports centre with wave starts; safety detail is not published. · Low confidence

3.8Very good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.

Road surfaceGood3.7
Reviewers call the roads good; no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
Road closuresMostly closed3.9
Organiser lists closed roads for 2026; earlier reports describe wide roads that felt safe but do not say they were closed. · Low confidence
Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Rutland countryside and reservoir views. · Low confidence
WindSome wind3.0
Open reservoir country; one reviewer mentions wind on the run. · Low confidence

Bike speedAverage3.2
Rolling with fast descents. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessRolling2.9
Three short climbs plus the Rutland Ripples; gain unpublished, assumed 400 to 600 m (1,300 to 2,000 ft). · Low confidence
Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Fast descents and a closed-road loop; no technical sections reported. · Low confidence

3.2Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportDecent3.0
Double loop of the dam lets athletes see each other; spectators are not described. · Low confidence
Aid stationsStandard3.4
Reviewers mostly like the stations, but too few feed stations is the most common complaint. · Low confidence
Run sceneryBeautiful3.9
Reviewers praise the views across the water; one called it a little boring. · Medium confidence
Run conditionsEasy3.6
Some grass; wind possible. · Low confidence

3.8Very good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Air temperaturePleasant4.1
June highs about 15 to 22 °C (59 to 72 °F). · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
English summer: showers and wind possible; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
Venue beautyLovely4.1
Rutland Water, a large lake with sheep pasture and tree-lined shore. · Medium confidence
Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Dam loops and the watersports centre allow viewing; not documented. · Low confidence

Low altitudeSea level4.8
About 75 m (250 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence

3.3Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Oakham and Stamford nearby; no race-weekend sell-out reports found. · Low confidence
Hotel valueNormal3.3
No pricing data; normal-ish rural rates assumed. · Low confidence
WalkabilityWalkable3.7
Park at Rutland Watersports, Bull Brigg Lane; swim, transition and finish are close. · Low confidence
Travel easeOne connection2.8
East Midlands Airport is about 60 km (37 mi) away; most drive in. · Low confidence
LogisticsSimple3.8
One venue; a 2016 reviewer suggested matting on the gravel run to T1. · Medium confidence
Town and foodGood3.8
Oakham and Stamford have pubs and restaurants. · Low confidence

RacecheckRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck lists 18 ratings (event safety 4.56/5) and reviews from 2016 to 2024. Reviewers agree the organisation is excellent, the lake is clean and calm, the bike is rolling with a few short hills, and the run is mostly flat around the dam. Complaints are minor: too few feed stations, no finisher medal, sun glare on the swim, gravel to T1.
“Super clear water for the swim.”
Racecheck reviewers (Max R., Martin S., Luke C., Paul L., Chris R. and others)
220 TriathlonRaced 2012 · article · Positive
Preview of the 2012 race as a British Triathlon qualifier: one-lap 1.5 km (0.93 mi) swim, a slightly long 42 km (26 mi) bike and a run just over 10 km (6.2 mi) around the lake and across the dam. The course has since been shortened to 40 km (25 mi).

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