Registration continues for one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year during which some of the best athletes in the world will test their prowess in a series of long-distance triathlon events.
The Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship Bahrain will be held on November 29, with the popular competition taking part in three legs – swimming, biking and running.
Courses for the races, which were announced earlier in the week, will see athletes passing some of the kingdom’s most iconic landmarks.
“This race is a celebration of triathlon and Middle Eastern culture over a weekend full of family-friendly events,” said a statement.
“This will be the fifth Ironman event in the Middle East, and Ironman 70.3 Bahrain will continue to delight athletes with its fast and unique courses, including a biking course that takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) racetrack.”
The one-loop 1.9km swimming course starts at the water in front of Reef Island on King Faisal Highway. Athletes will follow the rectangular ‘L’ shaped swim layout that leads along a series of left turns and back to the lagoon’s bank before they head into the transition.
A one-loop 90km biking course will also start at Reef Island, and athletes will pass the World Trade Centre, make their way to the Southern Governorate where they will pass the BIC and Al Areen Wildlife Park, and then head back to Reef Island.
Finally, the running course will be a three-loop 21.1km event that starts at Reef Island and heads towards the Bahrain Financial Harbour and King Faisal Corniche before returning to Reef Island.
Registrants have been divided into three categories – General Entry, Ironkids and Volunteers.
General Entry participants, who are required to be at least 18 years old on the race day, are further divided into Individual, VIP entrant or Relay Team.
Contestants will be provided with event gear that features a backpack for individuals and sling bags for relay athletes.
There will also be a banquet, on-course nutrition and post-race food, timed race results, a certificate and a jacket for individuals and a T-shirt for relay participants.
Athletes who registered before October 15 will have personalised race materials including their name on the merchandise.
Meanwhile, the Ironkids race will feature children aged four to 17. It will be held on November 28, with bibs, sling bags and T-shirts provided.
The distance will be determined according to age groups: 1.5km for those aged 17, 1.25km for ages 15 to 16, 1km for 13- to 14-year-olds, 750 metres for 11- to 12-year-olds, 500m for ages nine to 10, 250m for seven- to eight-year-olds, 150m for ages five to six, and 100m for four-year-olds.
Volunteers will be provided with free T-shirts, food and water on the day.
Last year, Belgium’s Marten Van Riel was the winner, clocking in at 3:31:21, followed by South Africa’s Henri Schoeman (3:32:50) and UK’s Max Stapley (3:34:20).
Russia’s TrilogySportsClub won last year’s club event with 44,417 points, followed by Qatar’s TriClub Doha (40,647 points) and Saudi Arabia’s Saudi TRI Community (33,809 points).
Bahrain Victorious’ British star Kat Matthews won the women’s race, clocking in at 3:59:07, with Bahrain Victorious teammate, Amelia Watkinson, from New Zealand, coming in second (3:59:43) and Germany’s Caroline Pohle finishing in third (4:00:17).
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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