Mid Sussex Triathlon
Burgess Hill, United Kingdom · June · Independent (Mid Sussex Triathlon Club)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 25 km (15.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 400 m (437 yd) pool, 25 km (15.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
Why people love it
- 400 m (437 yd) snake pool swim spaces swimmers out, and marshals calm nerves.
- British Triathlon rated the event excellent in 2022; the club has run it for over 20 years.
- 25 km (15.5 mi) country-lane bike with one early climb, signed so you cannot get lost.
- Pool, transition and finish are all at The Triangle, with easy parking and free race photos.
Watch out for
- Bike roads are open; in 2016 two punctured riders relied on a roaming club mechanic.
- The 5 km (3.1 mi) run felt less flat than expected to one reviewer.
- Prize-giving can mean a wait.
- Entries for the 6 June 2027 race were not yet open when checked.
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 satisfactionLoved4.1
Racecheck 4.54 out of 5 from 7 reviews and warm club reports, but a small local sprint stays below Blenheim and Cholmondeley. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
British Triathlon rated information, registration, safety and marshalling excellent in 2022. Reviewers report calm marshals and a signed bike loop. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.6
About a third of the 2019 field were first-timers. Reviewers say nobody felt out of place, and Racecheck reviewers call it ideal for beginners. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Snake pool swim limits congestion and the bike is mostly flat after one early climb; the run is out and back on roads. · 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 easeEasy3.8
400 m (437 yd) in a 25 m (27 yd) pool with a snake start. Some queueing at the start was reported in 2016. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
Seeded snake swim in a leisure-centre pool; cowbells were audible underwater in 2021. Fine, but nothing special. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood4.3
Pool with lanes that keep swimmers spaced and marshals who calm nerves, per reviewers. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Country lanes through Ansty, Wineham and Twineham. Surface was not discussed, though two riders punctured in 2016. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.5
Open roads. Two riders punctured far from the venue in 2016 and relied on a roaming club mechanic. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5
Sussex country lanes: pleasant, though reviewers did not rave about the views. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
Inland Sussex lanes. Wind was not mentioned in any report. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.7
25 km (15.5 mi) country-lane loop, one climb early on and then mostly flat. Elevation gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.8
Reviewers report no major hills beyond one early climb. No elevation figures are published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.9
One loop that reviewers call well signposted, so you cannot get lost. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
A student band played at the 2022 finish, and cowbells at the pool. Otherwise a modest local crowd. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
One water stop at 2.5 km (1.6 mi) on the 5 km (3.1 mi) run. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant2.8
Pavements and roads through Burgess Hill, with little to look at. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.4
A plain 5 km (3.1 mi) out and back with a water stop at halfway. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.2
Out and back on pavements and roads; one reviewer found it less flat than expected. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.1
Early to mid June, with a typical 11 to 21 °C (52 to 70 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Wet in 2016 but sunny in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Only a few years of reports. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant2.9
A leisure centre in a commuter town. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Pool, transition and finish are all at The Triangle, and prize-giving keeps families around. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 50 m (164 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
Commuter town with limited hotels; Brighton and Haywards Heath are nearby. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Typical South-East England prices, not driven by the race. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.1
Pool, transition and finish are all at The Triangle, with easy parking. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.9
Burgess Hill has a Brighton-line rail station, and Gatwick is about 30 km (19 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.4
Easy parking, one venue, free race photos and a clear schedule, per reviewers. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
Ordinary commuter-town options. Reviewers did not discuss them. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Burgess Hill, West Sussex, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 6 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Mid Sussex Triathlon Club)
- Field size
- About 230 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 25 km (15.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- The Triangle Leisure Centre pool, Burgess Hill (pool)
- Wetsuit
- Not applicable (pool)
- Swim start
- pool snake swim (serpentine lanes) with seeded entry
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- One climb early on the bike
- Run laps
- 1
- Air temperature
- 11–21 °C (52–70 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 50 m (165 ft)
- Nearest airport
- London Gatwick (LGW), 30 km (19 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Burgess Hill town centre
- Booking
- Day-trip race for Sussex and South London clubs; Burgess Hill has a rail station (Brighton line) and easy parking per reviewers. Airport distance is an approximate road estimate.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (7 written reviews)Raced 2018 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 4.54/5 from 7 written reviews dated 2013 to 2018. Reviewers agree it is a friendly, club-run event ideal for first-timers, with calm marshals, easy parking, a well-signed 25 km (15.5 mi) bike loop with one early climb, a snake pool swim that reduces congestion, a water stop at 2.5 km (1.6 mi) on the run, free photos, medal and goody bag. Only gripe is waiting for the prize presentations.
“Not a bad word to say.”
- Mid Sussex Triathlon Club race report, 2016Raced 2016 · blog · Positive
Wet day on 12 June 2016 with 238 triathletes and 22 aquabike entries. Two riders punctured far out on the bike course and the club's roaming mechanic fixed both bikes so they could finish. Teachers from a local school praised the organisation and planned to return; most entrants seemed to enjoy the day despite the rain.
- Mid Sussex Triathlon Club race report, 2019Raced 2019 · blog · Positive
Sunny day on 9 June 2019 with over 260 athletes aged 15 to 70; about a third were first-time triathletes. Club members marshalled, local firms donated prizes, and competitors praised the club's friendliness on social media. The report calls it a welcoming event for beginners and experienced athletes.
- Mid Sussex Triathlon Club race report, 2021Raced 2021 · blog · Positive
Dry, sunny 13 June 2021 under COVID rules: small arrival groups, untimed transitions, medals for all and no prizes. A first-timer enjoyed it despite nerves and a former race director described cowbells audible underwater.
“I really enjoyed the event today despite the nerves.”
- Mid Sussex Triathlon Club race report, 2022Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
Sunny 12 June 2022 with nearly 200 entrants. British Triathlon rated the event excellent for information, registration, safety, signage and marshalling; the bike was easy to follow and a student band played at the finish. A first-time triathlete felt included.
“I didn't for a second feel like I didn't belong”
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Sources
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