Yvonne Murray Launches Strathclyde Park Triathlon
Strathclyde Country Park, the triathlon venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, will be hosting the opening leg of the 2010 British Triathlon Super Series on Sunday 23 May, and to launch the event former British and Scottish endurance runner Yvonne Murray was joined by Elite Scottish triathlete Kerry Lang, and Scottish Triathlon Junior Squad athletes Gavin Alexander and Cliona Ferguson, for a triathlon master-class in Strathclyde Country Park today.
Murray, who won gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and Olympic bronze in the 1988 Seoul Games, will be coming out of retirement to participate in the Strathclyde Park Triathlon Novice race on the 23 May as part of a relay team which will be known as Team Murray. The remaining places will be taken by journalists.
“I am delighted to be here in Strathclyde Country Park today helping to launch the first leg of the British Triathlon Super Series. It is fantastic that all the athletes, whether Elite or Novice, will get the opportunity to compete at the triathlon venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“I am personally looking forward to recruiting two budding journalists to compete as part of Team Murray. I have never been part of a triathlon team before, so am really looking forward to pulling on the running shoes again.”
Over 100 Elite athletes will complete in the British Triathlon Super Series event, which will also see the race hold ITU Triathlon European Cup status and signifies the first ever ITU Triathlon European Cup event to be held in Scotland. In addition to the Elite athletes, there will be hundreds of Age Group athletes competing in two distances; Novice - 300m swim, 10km cycle and 2.5km run and Sprint - 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.
Glasgow based Lang, who put Murray through her paces in today’s master-class, is looking forward to the start of the 2010 British Triathlon Super Series:
“I always look forward to the start of the season, and I am delighted that the British Triathlon Super Series starts in Strathclyde Country Park, which is my home race. I have always enjoyed competing at the venue which will be used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and any opportunity I get to race here is fantastic.
“This year’s field is likely to be bigger and better than ever, with the incorporation of the ITU European Cup, so I am looking forward to a very tough race. Between now and then I will be getting a domestic and an international race in, so I will be more than ready for the European Cup race in Strathclyde on 23 May.”
Zara Hyde Peters, Chief Executive of British Triathlon, and a track rival of Murray’s during the early nineties is delighted that she is supporting the event:
“Yvonne is one of the most celebrated British and Scottish athletes and we are really pleased she is taking the time to support today’s launch and then participating in the Novice race in May. I will be watching Team Murray with interest, not only who they recruit but also how they perform on the day. I have no doubt with Yvonne involved they will all enjoy the event and successfully achieve their triathlon challenge.”
Hyde Peters, who ran for England when Murray won her gold for Scotland in 1994 Commonwealth Games, continued:
“We are very proud to be bringing an ITU Triathlon European Cup event to Scotland for the first time. Strathclyde Park has demonstrated its suitability as a setting for world class triathlon events and North Lanarkshire and Event Scotland have made this a venue we keep going back to. This event will give our domestic athletes a great opportunity to take on a global field and gain valuable world ranking points”
The British Triathlon Super Series creates a world class environment for domestic and international competitors, providing a high profile shop window for Triathlon in the UK. The Series aims to raise awareness and encourage participation in the fast-moving, modern and dynamic sport of triathlon in the build up to London 2012.
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said: “The mass participation element of the first leg of the British Triathlon Super Series at Strathclyde Park will showcase the venue’s sensational landscape and impressive facilities to a whole new audience of amateur triathlete.
“This is a rare opportunity for enthusiastic Novices to race alongside the world’s best athletes in their field at what will be the triathlon venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. This leg of the Super Series also has the added kudos of being an ITU Triathlon European Cup event, which will ensure the competition has a fantastic support and an impressive turnout of spectators.”
For your opportunity to participate in the Strathclyde Park Triathlon visit www.strathclydeparktriathlon.com and register in either the Novice or Sprint race.