Shropshire Triathlon (Ellesmere)

Ellesmere, England · June · Independent

Same event, olympic distance: see its rating

Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 25 km (15.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 750 m (0.47 mi) / 25 km (15.5 mi) / 5 km (3.1 mi)

Shropshire Triathlon (Ellesmere): the mere from cremorne gardens, ellesmere — The Mere from Cremorne Gardens, Ellesmere. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

3.2

Good

overall, out of 5

Bottom 30%#164 of 230

Ahead of 29% of the 230 races.

2345

Each bar is a range of 0.25 points; green holds this race. The average race scores 3.4.

What does this score mean?

Based on 1 review and 7 runner ratings. Treat this score as provisional. Why

What held it back

Held back by run (2.0) and bike (2.6). See the breakdown below.

Best for

Is it right for you?

First timer: 3.9 Friendly
PR potential: 3.0 Average
Wetsuit swim: 4.6 Almost always
Swim support: 3.2 Standard
Crowds: 3.2 Decent

Swim start, transition and finish are close together around The Mere and Cremorne Gardens.
Swim was cancelled in 2021 and 2023, and algae was reported in 2022 and 2023; a run may replace it.

Race
2.6
Swim
3.2
Bike
2.6
Run
2.0
Conditions
3.5
Stay and travel
2.8

Every score is out of 5, and 5 is always the better end.

Pick up to 3 races to compare side by side

Why people love it

Swim start, transition and finish are close together around The Mere and Cremorne Gardens.
Countryside bike route into Shropshire and Wales; the sprint is 25 km (15.5 mi).
Olympic is 1.5 km (0.93 mi) swim, 39 km (24.2 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run.
Held at The Mere since 1992; reviewers report a friendly atmosphere and good marshals.

Watch out for

Swim was cancelled in 2021 and 2023, and algae was reported in 2022 and 2023; a run may replace it.
Several reviewers report poor road surfaces and potholes on the bike.
Parking is limited; results can take days and finish food is thin.
Olympic run has one drinks station for 10 km (6.2 mi), tough on hot days.

Race

2.6Good

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 satisfactionLoved3.8
Racecheck shows 66 ratings averaging 4.51 and eight written reviews; fans like the atmosphere, but swim cancellations, parking and results drew complaints. · Medium confidence
OrganizationAdequate3.3
Swim cancelled late in 2021 and again in 2023, plus poor parking, thin finish food and results taking days. · Medium confidence
First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
25 km (15.5 mi) bike and 750 m (0.47 mi) swim are manageable; one sprint review. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

PR potentialAverage3.0
Undulating bike with rough roads. · Low confidence

Swim

3.2Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
Wetsuits are compulsory for the Olympic and recommended for the sprint; water is typically 17 to 20 °C (63 to 68 °F). · Medium confidence
Water temperatureAcceptable3.3
Mere water around 17 to 20 °C (63 to 68 °F), but algae was reported in 2022 and 2023. · Low confidence
Calm waterMostly calm4.3
Freshwater mere with no current. · Medium confidence
Swim easeEasy3.7
Sheltered lake with simple laps, but few reviewers describe the swim itself because it was cancelled. · Low confidence
Swim experienceFine2.8
Reviewers who got to swim were uneasy about algae, and two years lost the swim. · Medium confidence
Swim supportStandard3.2
Wave starts in a lake, but swim has been cancelled twice and the support set-up is not described. · Low confidence

Bike

2.6Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.

Road surfacePatchy2.3
Several reviewers report bad surfaces and potholes. · Medium confidence
Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Open country roads for the bike; the run laps on tarmac are closed to traffic. · Low confidence
Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Reviewers like the scenic route into Shropshire and Wales. · Medium confidence
WindSome wind3.2
Not reported by athletes; inland countryside route. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

Bike speedAverage3.0
Rolling Shropshire and Welsh lanes with potholes in places. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessRolling3.0
Undulating; no elevation figure. · Low confidence
Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.4
One lap, but a 2022 sprinter was sent on a different, shorter route. · Low confidence

Run

2.0Below par

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportDecent3.2
Run laps pass the gardens, but crowds are not described. · Low confidence
Aid stationsStandard2.6
One drinks station on the 10 km (6.2 mi) Olympic run on hot days, and thin finish food. · Medium confidence
Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Laps around Cremorne Gardens and the mere. · Low confidence
Run conditionsModerate3.1
Multi-lap run with limited aid; laps get crowded. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

Run flatnessMostly flat3.8
Two 2.5 km (1.6 mi) road laps. · Low confidence

Conditions

3.5Very good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Mid June, probably mild; one hot-day aid complaint. · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
British June weather is variable; few weather reports. · Low confidence
Venue beautyLovely4.0
The Mere and Cremorne Gardens make an attractive base. · Medium confidence
Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Swim start, transition and finish are close together. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

Low altitudeSea level4.8
Ellesmere is low-lying, around 80 m (260 ft). · High confidence

Stay and travel

2.8Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Small town; rooms were not checked in detail. · Low confidence
Hotel valueGood3.6
Not checked; likely fair value. · Low confidence
WalkabilityWalkable3.6
Swim, transition and finish are close, but parking is limited. · Low confidence
Travel easeOne connection2.6
Rural location; the nearest big airports are Manchester and Birmingham. · Low confidence
LogisticsSimple3.6
Compact site, but limited parking. · Medium confidence
Town and foodFine3.3
Small market town; athletes say little about it. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, England
Typical month: June
Latest or next date: 19 June 2027
Organiser: Independent
First held: 1992
Distances (non-standard): 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 25 km (15.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
Swim venue: The Mere, Cremorne Gardens, Ellesmere (lake)
Water temperature: 17–20 °C (63–68 °F)
Wetsuit: Compulsory for Olympic, recommended for sprint
Swim start: wave
Swim laps: 1
Bike laps: 1
Run laps: 2
Air temperature: 12–21 °C (54–70 °F)
Altitude: 80 m (260 ft)
Nearest airport: Liverpool John Lennon (LPL), 75 km (47 mi) away
Where to stay: Ellesmere
Booking: Limited free camping on site and nearby caravan parks and farms.

Official race website (uktriathlon.co.uk)

What racers and reviewers say

RacecheckRaced 2023 · aggregator · Mixed
Sixty-six ratings average 4.51 of 5; eight written reviews from 2021 to 2023, mostly Olympic with one sprint. Reviewers like the friendly atmosphere, scenic bike route and marshals. They complain about swim cancellations (late in 2021, algae in 2023), bad road surfaces, poor parking, thin finish food, one water station on the run and results taking days.

Raced Shropshire Triathlon (Ellesmere)? 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 Shropshire Triathlon (Ellesmere)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.