Sheffield Triathlon and Duathlon (Rother Valley)
Sheffield, United Kingdom · June · Independent (Wild Deer Events; British Triathlon permitted)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 22 km (13.7 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 750 m (0.47 mi) / 22 km (13.7 mi) / 5 km (3.1 mi); sprint duathlon and relay run the same day.
Why people love it
- Swim in one of three lakes at Rother Valley Country Park; wetsuit optional but recommended.
- Three waves, fastest to slowest; marshals and a safe-to-start signal calm new swimmers.
- Flat 5 km (3.1 mi) run, one lap around the lake, finishing near the water centre.
- No cut-off times and an 08:00 start; clean, fresh water per a 2026 reviewer.
Watch out for
- Bike is 22 km (13.7 mi), longer than the usual 20 km (12.4 mi) sprint, and undulating per club reports.
- Parking is paid at on-site machines and the barriers opened late in 2023; arrive early.
- Briefing is hard to hear and medals are handed out right after the finish line.
- A timing chip change went uncommunicated in 2026; slower riders returning to T2 need separating.
- Sells out each year; entries need booking well ahead.
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
Organiser-collected Eventrac reviews average 4.8 of 5 and skew positive; two club reports are positive but mention hiccups. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Minor issues: a 2023 car park delay, an inaudible briefing, an uncommunicated timing change and a missed medal handover. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.5
Beginners praise marshals and the wave start. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
Flat run, rideable bike; winners about 1:08. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.7
Optional; June lake about 15 °C (59 °F) is far below the 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) World Triathlon limit. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.5
About 15 °C (59 °F) in 2023; clean and fresh per a 2026 reviewer. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.1
Sheltered inland lake; no chop complaints, but few reviewers describe conditions. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.1
Well-buoyed lake. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Clean water and well-laid-out buoys; lake in a country park. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood4.1
Three waves, marshals and a safe-to-start signal that beginners found reassuring. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Country lanes; no complaints in reviews. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.9
Country lanes with marshals and signs; closure is not stated. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Reports mention scenic lanes through Killamarsh and Woodhall. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
Not mentioned by reviewers. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.6
Fairly fast per a club report; undulating rather than flat. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.4
Reports say undulating; organiser says flat. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
Well marshalled and signposted; slower cyclists need separation near T2. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
A few reviewers mention a good crowd and supportive racers. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Volunteers praised; no aid detail for the 5 km (3.1 mi) run. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.9
Lakeside loop in a country park. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.0
Simple and flat. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.3
One flat lap. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Late June air 11 to 20 °C (52 to 68 °F) (estimate). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
One 2023 edition stormy; otherwise fair. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Country park with three lakes; reviewers score scenery 5 of 5, though that rating is organiser-collected. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Lakeside venue where spectators can see the swim, transition and finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 60 m (200 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 availabilityGood3.8
Close to Sheffield and Rotherham, hotels not researched; most athletes drive in. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No hotel prices found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
Park once; swim, transition and finish are in the same area. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
Edge of Sheffield by road; no major airport nearby. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
One venue; paid parking and early bib collection. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.4
The park is on the edge of Sheffield; few reviewers mention food. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 20 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Wild Deer Events; British Triathlon permitted)
- Field size
- About 250 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 22 km (13.7 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Rother Valley Country Park lake (lake)
- Water temperature
- 14–18 °C (57–64 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave starts, fastest to slowest
- Run laps
- 1
- Air temperature
- 11–20 °C (52–68 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 60 m (195 ft)
- Nearest airport
- East Midlands Airport (EMA), 75 km (47 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Sheffield city centre, Rotherham
- Booking
- Parking is paid on site at ticket machines; arrive early. One 2023 edition was delayed 30 minutes because the car park barriers opened late.
What racers and reviewers say
- Eventrac / Wild Deer Events reviewsRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 4.8 of 5 across 23 ratings with 17 written reviews (June 2026), and 5 of 5 for scenery, atmosphere and organisation. Reviewers agree on a well-run, welcoming day for beginners and experienced athletes, with helpful marshals and a clean lake. Complaints are minor: a hard-to-hear race briefing, a missed medal handed out right after the finish, and a late chip-timing change.
“one of the best sprints”
- Steel City Striders (Liam Russell)Raced 2025 · blog · Positive
Club member's report: three swim waves fastest to slowest, a nervous open-water return finishing in about 20 minutes, then a scenic undulating but fairly fast 22 km (13.7 mi) bike and one lap of the park for the run. Used it as a tune-up and was quicker on the bike than at the duathlon the year before.
“quite scenic roads”
- Steel City Striders (2023 report)Raced 2023 · blog · Positive
First triathlon at Rother Valley in several years. Registration opened 06:30; the first wave slipped to 08:30 when the car park barriers opened late and toilets were short. Water was about 15 °C (59 °F) with well-placed coloured buoys, the bike was well marshalled and undulating with good scenery, and the run was flat around the lake.
“well laid out with the coloured buoys”
- Eventrac review (Lucy Marshall)Raced 2026 · review · Positive
Praised clean, fresh water, a solid bike for all abilities and a simple run, but said the race briefing was hard to hear because of the speaker.
“clean, fresh water”
- Eventrac review (Dean Shelley)Raced 2026 · review · Positive
Great value and friendly to beginners. Suggests better separation for slower cyclists returning to T2 and a separate transition exit to ease congestion.
Show 3 more
- Eventrac review (Bradley Gozzard)Raced 2026 · review · Positive
A beginner who loved it, praising the marshals and the reassuring safe-to-start signal.
- Eventrac review (Adam Priestley)Raced 2026 · review · Positive
First event of this type; well organised with helpful volunteers, but a change of timing chip company was not communicated until afterwards.
- Eventrac review (Martyn Hall)Raced 2026 · review · Mixed
Excellent event, but he missed his medal because medals were handed out soon after the finish and he did not realise.
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Sources
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