Bishopton Triathlon
Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom · August · Independent (U Prevail Events)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 21 km (13.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 750 m / 21 km / 5 km (0.47 / 13.0 / 3.1 mi). A RacePass listing shows 27 km / 6 km, likely an older course.
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 friendlyIdeal first race4.8
Single 750 m (820 yd) standable lake lap; first-timers praise it on Racecheck 2026. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
21 km (13 mi) fast bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) uneven 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 easeVery easy4.5
One lap, standable. · 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 speedFast3.8
Fast roads. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.4
21 km (13 mi) with three short climbs; gain unpublished. · 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 conditionsModerate3.1
Gravel and grass. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.8
2 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)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 21 km (13.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Bishopton Lake, North East Wake Park (lake)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Three climb segments on a course used for British Cycling and TT events
- Run laps
- 2
- 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”
Raced Bishopton Triathlon? 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 Bishopton Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.