Ashbourne Sprint Triathlon
Ashbourne, United Kingdom · May · Independent (PMA Racing)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 17 km (10.6 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 400 m (437 yd) pool, 17 km (10.6 mi) bike (Racecheck lists 16.9 km / 10.5 mi), 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Transition about 150 m (164 yd) per British Triathlon.
Why people love it
- 400 m (437 yd) pool swim with a briefing, so no open-water nerves for first-timers.
- Marshals are praised in nearly every review, including on the 17 km (10.6 mi) bike.
- The 5 km (3.1 mi) run is on the Tissington Trail, a traffic-free path.
- Small, friendly field of about 300 with race-morning registration from 07:30.
Watch out for
- Bike transition was cramped in 2026 and bikes were hard to find.
- Bike roads are open. Town traffic stopped some riders in 2026.
- Dog walkers and families share the trail run.
- Some missed start times, the helmet sticker rule and bag storage details in 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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.4
Racecheck 4.58/5 from 36 reviews (4.43 in 2026); mostly praise for marshals, with 2026 complaints about cramped transition. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Racecheck reviewers praise logistics, but in 2026 some missed start times and helmet sticker rules, and bag storage was informal. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.5
Pool swim, short 5 km (3.1 mi) run, and most Racecheck reviewers call it ideal for beginners. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.3
Seeded pool start and a 17 km (10.6 mi) undulating bike, but traffic stops and a shared trail run cost time. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarelyn/a
Pool swim, so wetsuit_legal and calm_water are null (not applicable). · High confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.2
Heated leisure-centre pool; Racecheck water quality is 5.0/5 from 9 ratings. Exact temperature is not published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Pool swim, so wetsuit_legal and calm_water are null (not applicable). · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
400 m (437 yd) pool, though one 2026 reviewer was held up by slower swimmers. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Clean pool, but a long barefoot run over matting to a tight bike area spoiled the flow in 2026. · Low confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.6
Pool with lifeguards and a pre-swim briefing, so no open-water risk for nervous swimmers. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
No reviewer comments on road surface. Rated as typical Derbyshire lanes. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.3
Roads are open: two 2026 reviewers had to stop for town-centre traffic. Many marshals on course (Racecheck safety 4.64/5). · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Reviewers call the course beautiful, on Peak District edge roads. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
Wind is not mentioned in any review. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.2
17 km (10.6 mi) of undulating lanes, with town-centre traffic forcing some riders to stop in 2026. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.3
Undulating but not hilly per the organiser. Elevation gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.3
Town-centre traffic and junctions early on, then quieter lanes. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Small field of about 300. Praise centres on marshals rather than spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Racecheck aid stations 4.48/5 from 31 ratings. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Former railway trail through Peak District countryside, which reviewers call lovely. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.4
Firm off-road trail, but dog walkers and families got in runners' way in 2026. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.7
Tissington Trail out and back: flat per one listing, "up and down" per a 2022 first-timer. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Mid-May mornings are typically cool, 7 to 17 °C (45 to 63 °F). No reviewer comments on comfort. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Peak District May weather is changeable. No cancellations reported. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Pretty market town at the southern edge of the Peak District; the leisure-centre base itself is plain. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Family can watch the pool exit, transition and finish. One 2024 reviewer's family enjoyed the day. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.4
Ashbourne sits at about 150 m (490 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Small market town with B&Bs and inns. Book early for a May Sunday. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No pricing evidence found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Central parking is close to the leisure centre and transition is 150 m (164 yd) from the pool. 2026 parking not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.7
No railway station. East Midlands Airport is about 45 km (28 mi) away by road. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
Race-morning registration from 07:30 and one base, but 2026 transition was cramped and bag storage informal. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Historic market town with cafes and pubs. Reviewers did not comment on food. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Ashbourne, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 17 May 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (PMA Racing)
- Field size
- About 300 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 17 km (10.6 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Ashbourne Leisure Centre pool (pool)
- Wetsuit
- Not applicable (pool)
- Swim start
- pool time-trial style (seeded start); organiser gives a pre-swim briefing
- Run shade
- tree-lined in parts (photos)
- Air temperature
- 7–17 °C (45–63 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Nearest airport
- East Midlands (EMA), 45 km (28 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Ashbourne town centre
- Booking
- Small market town; no railway station. Distance is an approximate road estimate.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (36 verified reviews)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 4.58/5 from 36 reviews (2026 average 4.43). Reviewers agree on friendly, numerous marshals, good signage and a well-run, beginner-friendly morning. 2026 complaints: cramped bike transition with bikes hard to find, missing pre-race details, town-centre traffic stopping riders, and walkers with dogs on the trail run.
“Well organised friendly event, good for first-timers.”
- Wytech blog, Ashbourne Triathlon 2022Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
Two first-timers from a local gym. One panicked at the start of the pool swim and switched to breaststroke; the other happily breaststroked it in about 10 minutes. Both found marshals helpful with rack placement and transition set-up, and both ran the up-and-down Tissington Trail. A mountain-bike rider felt outclassed on the bike but finished happy.
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Sources
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