New Forest Triathlon (Challenging Events)
Ringwood (Moyles Court), United Kingdom · September · Independent (Challenging Events)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 33 km (20.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 400 m (0.25 mi) swim, 1 km (0.6 mi) road run to transition, 33 km (20.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Long bike for a sprint.
Why people love it
- Bike runs through the New Forest, with ponies and cattle on the roads and marshals at every turn.
- Sprint swim is 400 m (0.25 mi) in a water ski lake that one reviewer found smoother than a pool.
- Racecheck rates it 4.61 out of 5 on 84 ratings; marshals, check-in and communication get praise.
- Registration opens at 05:30 on race morning, with parking and camping at the school.
Watch out for
- The standard distance is 1.1 km (0.68 mi) swim, 33 km (20.5 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run.
- Most reviews cover the middle distance and describe the venue; few athletes have written about the sprint or standard.
- Sprint bike is 33 km (20.5 mi), well above the usual 20 km (12.4 mi).
- A 1 km (0.6 mi) road run from lake to transition means bringing trainers.
- Shared roads with the middle distance felt congested and at times unsafe 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 satisfactionLoved4.1
Racecheck 4.61 out of 5 on 84 ratings, mostly middle distance; only a few written reviews cover the sprint or standard. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Staff and logistics praised, but shared roads were congested and one aquabike entrant called it the worst organised race they had done. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.0
Welcoming to novices, but the bike is 33 km (20.5 mi) and the run to transition is 1 km (0.6 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.9
Long bike and 1 km (0.6 mi) run to T1 inflate times · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.0
Early September lake; Triathlon England follows World Triathlon, banned above 24.6 °C (76.3 °F); no temperature data found · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.7
No published temperature; early September lake likely 16 to 20 °C (61 to 68 °F) · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.1
Water ski lake; one sprint reviewer found it smoother than their indoor pool. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
Short 400 m (0.25 mi) swim · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.5
Pretty spot and good water quality scores, but a 2017 report found it murky and weedy, and swimmers wait in the lake before the start. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Mass start by distance; marshals and safety team, no ability waves published · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Quiet forest and country roads; no surface complaints found · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Roads stay open with marshals at every turn and little traffic; shared out-and-back sections felt congested and at times unsafe in 2026. · Medium confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.5
New Forest ponies, donkeys and cattle; reviewers call it very scenic · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.8
Forest cover; no wind complaints · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.3
Shared roads · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.0
Undulating, 33 km (20.5 mi), elevation unknown · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Marshals on every turn and impossible to get lost; wildlife on the road · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Cheering at marshal points and the village; small crowds, with few reports from spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Water at about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) and 10 km (6.2 mi) plus transition; aid stations 4.33 on Racecheck; no bike aid · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Quiet New Forest country roads · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.7
Short run on quiet roads · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.4
Undulating mixed, 5 km (3.1 mi) · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Early September, about 11 to 20 °C (52 to 68 °F), estimate · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.1
English autumn weather; no cancellation reports found · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.2
New Forest setting with a lake and school grounds; reviewers call the area beautiful. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Event village with coffee and pizza, but the lake is 1 km (0.6 mi) from transition. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 20 m (66 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 availabilityGood3.5
Ringwood and Bournemouth within reach; on-site camping · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Day trip or camping; no price data · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
Swim at the lake, transition at the school 1 km (0.6 mi) away, finish at the school · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
Bournemouth Airport about 15 km (9 mi); no station at the venue, so most drive · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
Race-morning registration from 05:30, parked by 07:30, 1 km (0.6 mi) run between lake and transition · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Ringwood and New Forest villages; on-site food van · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Ringwood (Moyles Court), Hampshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 6 September 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Challenging Events)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 33 km (20.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Ellingham Water Ski Lake, about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the Moyles Court School transition (lake)
- Wetsuit
- Likely legal in early September (Triathlon England follows World Triathlon: no wetsuit above 24.6 °C / 76.3 °F for swims up to 1,500 m)
- Swim start
- mass start by distance (sprint 08:30, standard 07:50)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Air temperature
- 11–20 °C (52–68 °F)
- Altitude
- 20 m (66 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bournemouth Airport, 15 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Ringwood, Fordingbridge
- Booking
- Day-trip race. Parking and overnight camping on site at Moyles Court School (camping the night before; no stoves). Registration from 05:30 on race morning, and all athletes must be parked by 07:30.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck New Forest Middle Distance TriathlonRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
84 athletes average 4.61 out of 5 across all distances, mostly middle distance entries. The ten written reviews shown are mostly 2026 and include one sprint and one standard. Praise goes to friendly marshals, clear bike signing, an easy check-in and a welcoming feel for first-timers on a mountain bike. Complaints: shared out-and-back roads made the bike congested and at times unsafe, the long run to transition was confusing, and one aquabike entrant called it the worst organised race they had done. Water quality scored 4.78 and logistics 4.75.
“Recommended for all levels of experience.”
- Challenging Events event page (athlete review excerpt)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
A newer triathlete praised the organisation, welcoming helpers and marshals, and the swim venue, calling the lake smoother than an indoor pool. They found the open-road bike course almost free of traffic, with marshals on every turn, and enjoyed free post-race snacks. Chosen by the organiser, so treat it as a positive sample.
- Racecheck review by Helene R. (2017)Raced 2017 · aggregator · Mixed
A middle-distance entrant under the previous organiser found murky, weedy water, a confusing swim route change and weak showers. The three-lap bike through the forest was fast but needed a lookout for animals. Challenging Events replied that they had since taken over and made changes. Dated; used for swim water character only.
Raced New Forest Triathlon (Challenging Events)? 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 New Forest Triathlon (Challenging Events)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.