Cheshire Triathlon
Nantwich, United Kingdom · May · Independent (UK Triathlon)
Course: 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 21 km (13.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 500 m (547 yd) / 21 km (13 mi) / 5 km (3.1 mi)
Why people love it
- Heated outdoor brine pool: 500 m (547 yd) swim, one of very few left in the UK
- Flat park run of four 1.25 km (0.78 mi) laps, mostly on grass
- Beginner friendly, with 200 m (219 yd) super sprint and fun options
- Park finish where family can watch easily
Watch out for
- Split transitions: the pool and the park are about 500 m (550 yd) apart
- Poor bike road surface and a busy final 2 km (1.2 mi)
- The 2022 results had many timing errors
- Roads are open, and sprint entry is about £80
- Grass run is slower than road
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 satisfactionLoved4.0
Racecheck shows 4.50 out of 5 from 19 reviews, but the 2022 average dipped to 4.02 over results errors. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Pre-event contact and marshals get praise. The 2022 results had wrong splits and an emailed query went unanswered. Split transitions add complexity. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.6
Heated outdoor pool, 500 m (547 yd) or 200 m (219 yd) options and a grass run. Several first-timers raved in 2021 and 2022. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Flat 21 km (13 mi) bike per reviewers, but the grass run is slower than road and split transitions add 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
Not applicable: pool swim. · High confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.0
Heated outdoor brine pool. A 2012 report says sunshine had warmed it. The temperature is not published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Not applicable: pool swim. · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.3
30.5 m (33 yd) pool, 16 lengths for 500 m (547 yd), with staggered time-trial starts. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Open-air brine pool, one of very few left in the UK. A reviewer found it clean. · Low confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.6
Pool with lifeguards, staggered starts and reassuring pre-event contact, according to a 2022 first-timer. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.7
Two reviewers, in 2021 and 2022, call the road surface poor. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.4
Roads appear open, with marshals out. The last 2 km (1.2 mi) run on a busy bypass with a large roundabout. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5
South Cheshire countryside. Reviewers did not single out the scenery. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Cheshire plain. Wind did not come up in reviews. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.7
Single 21 km (13 mi) lap that most reviewers call flat and fast. The last 2 km (1.2 mi) are on a busy bypass. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.1
The organiser says undulating and reviewers say flat. Climbing is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
A 2021 first-timer found directions clear. The final section is busy. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Park run with easy spectator access and a family crowd. A 2012 report put the field above 1,000. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Racecheck rates aid stations 4.42 out of 5 from 12 ratings. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.3
Local park laps. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.9
Mostly grass, which is comfortable but slower than road. Reviewers call it easy. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.8
Four flat 1.25 km (0.78 mi) laps in Barony Park, which all reviewers call flat and fast. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.7
Early to mid May highs are usually 12 to 17 °C (54 to 63 °F). This is a regional estimate. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Spring weather varies. No cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.3
Market-town leisure centre and a town park. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Park finish with spectator access. Split transitions mean walking between sites. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Nantwich sits at about 40 m (130 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
Market town with several hotels and B&Bs. Most athletes drive in. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
No price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
The pool is about 500 m (550 yd) from T2 and the finish, a roughly 10-minute walk. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.3
Nantwich has a railway station. Manchester airport is about 50 km (31 mi) away by road. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.9
Split transitions at the pool and the park. Race packs are collected on the day. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Historic market town with cafes and pubs. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Nantwich, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 10 May 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (UK Triathlon)
- Field size
- About 1,000 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 21 km (13.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Nantwich open-air heated brine pool (pool)
- Wetsuit
- Not applicable (pool)
- Swim start
- pool time-trial, staggered starts
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 4
- Air temperature
- 7–17 °C (45–63 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 40 m (130 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Manchester (MAN), 50 km (31 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Nantwich town centre
- Booking
- Entry about 80 pounds for sprint on the organiser page; race packs on the day, at least one hour before start. Parking not published.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (19 reviews)Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 4.50 out of 5 from 19 reviews. The 10 written ones cover the sprint (8), super sprint (1) and one unstated, from 2021 and 2022. Athletes like the organisation, friendly marshals and the heated outdoor brine pool, and call it good for first-timers and families. Common cautions: split transitions, a poor bike road surface with a busy last 2 km (1.2 mi), and in 2022 wrong splits and no reply to a results query.
“Reassuring pre-event contact, supportive marshals, very enjoyable.”
- Torq Fitness, Cheshire Triathlon race reportRaced 2012 · blog · Positive
A fast age-grouper finished 3rd overall. The pool start was a staggered time trial from 08:32 with 20 s gaps, sun had warmed the outdoor pool, and the field topped 1,000 athletes of all abilities. The run was fully on grass, comfortable but slower than road.
Raced Cheshire Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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