Bassetlaw Sprint Triathlon
Worksop, United Kingdom · August · Independent (Bassetlaw Triathlon Club)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 22.6 km (14.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 400 m (437 yd) pool (411 m / 449 yd in the 2026 listing), 22.6 km (14.0 mi) bike (21 to 23.6 km / 13.0 to 14.7 mi across years), 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 2026 transition is about 50 m (55 yd).
Why people love it
- 400 m (437 yd) pool swim in timed waves, so no open-water nerves for first-timers.
- Reviewers praise friendly marshals and an easy, well-signed bike route of about 22.6 km (14.0 mi).
- Easy parking and race-morning registration in earlier years; run by the local triathlon club.
- Pool, transition and finish were close together, and 2026 transition is about 50 m (55 yd).
Watch out for
- Venue moved to Worksop College in 2026 with an off-road run; every written review describes the old course.
- Pool lanes can queue at the wall, slowing quicker swimmers.
- Village roads have rough patches, and roadworks lights delayed riders in 2017.
- No 2027 date is published yet.
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 satisfactionLoved3.9
Nine Racecheck reviews from 2015 to 2023 are warm, but a small local sprint with a changed 2026 venue sits below well-reviewed peers. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Reviewers like the marshals and signing, with small gripes over racking and roadworks lights. All reviews predate the 2026 venue move. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.3
Reviewers call it a good first triathlon: short pool swim, friendly marshals, easy bike. The 2026 off-road run is untested by reviewers. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Reviewers call the bike fast, but pool lane queues cost time and the 2026 run is off-road and undulating. · 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 this does not apply. · High confidence
- Water temperatureExtremen/a
Pool swim, so this does not apply. · High confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Pool swim, so this does not apply. · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.7
400 m (437 yd) pool, 16 lengths. Lane queues at the wall held some swimmers up in 2016 and 2017, in the old pool. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.3
Timed pool waves two to three minutes apart. Reviews describe the old leisure-centre pool, not the college pool used in 2026. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.2
Pool with staff and volunteers counting lengths and waves keeping lanes manageable, per earlier reviews. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
Village roads with rough patches that the club marks in advance, noted in 2015 and 2017. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Marshalled open roads. Temporary roadworks lights delayed riders in 2017, so roads are not closed. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.3
Nottinghamshire villages (Langold, Letwell, Gildingwells): pleasant rather than scenic. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Inland villages. Only one wind report, a headwind on the run near Oldcotes in 2015. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.6
Reviewers call it fast with false flats over 21 to 23.6 km (13.0 to 14.7 mi); the 2026 listing says undulating. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.5
Elevation is not published. Reviewers say flat and fast, while the 2026 listing calls it undulating. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Marshalled village roads, one lap. A compulsory stop at the Gildingwells crossroads in 2015 broke the rhythm. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.8
Small field of 130 to 200. Family-friendly finish, but reviewers wanted more entertainment. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Racecheck rates aid stations 3.62 out of 5 from 8 ratings. Marshals were friendly. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.3
Earlier laps were urban and plain. The 2026 woodland and college grounds are likely nicer, but no athlete has written about them. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.2
An easy 5 km (3.1 mi) in earlier years, but the 2026 run is off-road and undulating. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.0
Old urban laps were flat. The 2026 college-grounds run is described as undulating, with no gain published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Mid-August early-afternoon start, with a typical 12 to 22 °C (54 to 72 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
UK summer. Ideal weather was reported in 2017, but there is little data across years. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.3
Earlier editions used a leisure centre and playing field. Worksop College grounds are new for 2026 and not yet reviewed. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Earlier editions kept pool, transition and finish close together. The 2026 college layout is untested. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 30 m (98 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 availabilityGood3.6
Small market town with budget hotels. No sell-out pressure reported. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Typical UK market-town prices, not driven by the race. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Park once at the college, with a transition of about 50 m (55 yd) in the 2026 listing. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
East Midlands airport is about 70 km (43 mi) away. Worksop has a rail station. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.1
Easy parking, race-morning registration and one transition in earlier years. The 2026 listing shows parking and changing rooms at the college. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Market town with ordinary food options. Reviewers did not discuss it. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Worksop, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 16 August 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Bassetlaw Triathlon Club)
- Field size
- About 200 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 22.6 km (14.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Pool in Worksop (leisure centre in earlier years, Worksop College pool in the 2026 listing) (pool)
- Wetsuit
- Not applicable (pool)
- Swim start
- pool time-trial waves two to three minutes apart (2015 report)
- Swim laps
- 16
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- woodland sections in the 2026 college-grounds description
- Air temperature
- 12–22 °C (54–72 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 30 m (98 ft)
- Nearest airport
- East Midlands (EMA), 70 km (43 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Worksop town centre
- Booking
- Day-trip race for locals. Parking and race-morning registration were easy in earlier years; 2026 listing lists parking and changing rooms at Worksop College. Airport distance is an approximate road estimate.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (9 written reviews)Raced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 4.28/5 from 9 written reviews dated 2015 to 2023. Reviewers agree on friendly, numerous marshals, an easy and well-signed bike route, easy parking and a good first-triathlon event run by the local club. Complaints are small: pool lane queues, wobbly numbered racking, temporary roadworks lights on the bike and variable road surfaces. Several return every year.
“it's a fantastic little event”
Raced Bassetlaw Sprint Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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