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06
Jul 2024
Brownlee brothers provide inspiration for Ripon's first triathlon festival
Hundreds of swimmers, cyclists and runners inspired by Olympic medallists Alistair and Jonny Brownlee are heading to Ripon this month for the city’s first triathlon festival.
The event, launched this year by the world-famous brothers, will raise funds for the Brownlee Foundation, which encourages children of all backgrounds to engage in sport.
The festival, centered on Ripon Racecourse on July 13 and 14, sees the merging of the Dalesman and NYP Tri Ripon Triathlon, for a weekend of different events and distances including sprint, standard, middle distance, triathlon, open-water swims and a range of children’s races.
Catherine Lyons, secretary of NYP (formerly North Yorkshire Police) Triathlon Club, said:
It was a no-brainer to work with the Brownlee brothers and their foundation. Youth development is so important and Alistair and Jonny have been inspiring athletes for years and this very much ties in with the club’s ethos.
Returning this event to its former glories with the Brownlees on board is a wonderful opportunity and fully supported by us.
Ripon has always been a ‘festival weekend’ offering great racing for adults and children, with a sideline of fun and activities for the whole family. We look forward to embracing this model, as well as engaging the whole community.
The triathlon event is made up of swimming, cycling and running: Photos: Two26 Photography
That was echoed by Jonny Brownlee who referenced the now legendary Challenge Roth triathlon festival in Germany when he said:
We want to get the whole city and surrounding area to welcome athletes and visitors like Roth has done – that's the goal, to get everyone to buy into it and benefit from what it can then become.
Both have similar populations and Ripon underlined its sporting potential when the area played host to what is widely regarded as the grandest of all Grands Départs when the Tour de France visited in 2014.
The brothers already have a track record of putting on major events in Yorkshire – the first ever Brownlee Tri took place at nearby Fountains Abbey – and have always championed the county.
Further details about the Ripon Triathlon Festival can be found here.
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