Last chance to give tri a go as dates revealed ahead of Leeds' ITU World Triathlon Series debut

Jenny Vincent, of British Triathlon, Coun Roger Harington and triathlete Lucy Hall launch the Go Tri series in Armley. Picture by James Hardisty.

Organisers of Leeds’ first ever ITU World Triathlon Series stage have released the dates of the remaining Go Tri sessions, which are aimed at giving amateurs an introduction to the sport, while announcing that all 5,800 June 12 amateur race spaces have now sold out.

Despite the strong interest there are still limited spaces available for the £10-a-ticket Go Tri mini triathlon experience in Roundhay Park the day prior, on June 11, where you can tackle a 200-metre swim, 10km bike ride and 2.5km run.

In the build-up to the main event several free Go Tri pre-event taster sessions, including opportunities to try open water swimming, are being staged across the city.

The Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds will see a world-class field of triathletes including the Brownlee brothers swim 1.5km through Roundhay’s Waterloo Lake, before cycling 41.5km to Leeds and running 10km on June 12.

Coun Judith Blake, Leeds City Council leader, said: “If anyone fancies having their first go at triathlon sign up now or attend one of the pre-event training sessions to be part of what is shaping up to be another amazing weekend for Leeds.”

A free introduction to triathlon talk will be held at John Charles Centre for Sport today, before pre-event Go Tri sessions at Leeds leisure centres on May 28, 30, June 2 and 5.

Open water swimming sessions for beginners will also take place at Roundhay Park on May 26 from 7pm, and on May 29 and June 4 from 9.30am.

The sessions are all aimed at supporting amateurs taking on the Go Tri mini triathlon on June 11 or the sprint, relay and Olympic distance events on June 12.

YEP reporter Jonathan Brown will be among thousands of amateurs taking on the Olympic distance triathlon on the same day as the pros on June 12. He is writing a regular training blog and raising funds for the A Million for Maggie’s campaign.

Jack Buckner, chief executive of British Triathlon, said: “The Go Tri event is a really exciting opportunity for the local community to ‘Tri Something New’, get active, and become a part of what will be an unforgettable event for Leeds.”

The Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds is being organised by British Triathlon in partnership with Leeds City Council.

For further information or to sign up to the Go Tri event or sessions visit leeds.gov.uk/triathlon.