Strathclyde Country Park is preparing itself for an influx of high class athletes over the next few months, as it hosts an assortment of unique and elite sporting events.
Taking place from May right though to September, the events include a mix of sailing, rowing, swimming and multi-discipline sports.
First on the calendar is Sunday 22 May, when some of the world’s best triathletes will compete in the first leg of the British Triathlon Super Series. As well as the elite competition, the event, set in the beautiful country park and 200 acre loch, will also see the return of the mass participation race where budding triathletes of all abilities can compete in either a youth sprint (400m swim, 10.6km bicycle, 2.5km run), age group sprint (750m swim, 21.2km bicycle, 5km run) or novice triathlon (400m swim, 10.6km bicycle, 2.5km run).
Over June and July, top class rowing will be the sport of choice as the Scottish Amateur Rowing Championships take place on 11 and 12 June on the world renowned Strathclyde Loch – an official rowing training facility for London 2012. These are closely followed by the Home International Regatta which returns to Scotland for the first time in five years on 23 July. Held annually since 1962, the Regatta, one of the premier international rowing competitions in the UK, brings together the top rowers from across the British Isles to compete at both junior (under 18) and senior levels.
Between the 4 – 8 August, Lanarkshire will host the International Children’s Games, where almost 1500 children from across the world will take part in a range of different events including swimming, athletics, sailing, golf and badminton. In what is the world’s biggest youth sporting event, over 70 teams from 32 countries will participate with the home nations’ athletes at 9 venues across Lanarkshire. Throughout the games, Strathclyde Country Park will host the sailing events with competitors from as far afield as Australia, Lithuania, Switzerland, the USA and Canada. The Park will also be the venue for the closing ceremony which takes place on Sunday 7 August.
September kicks off with the Scottish Standard Triathlon Championships on Sunday 4 September, where talent from across Europe will converge on the Park in their quest for victory and qualification for the 2012 European Age Group Championships. The month end will then see thousands of swimmers from across the UK participate in the British Gas Great Scottish Swim on Saturday 24 September. Described as the UK's biggest mass participation open water swimming series, the Great Swim series welcomes swimmers of all ages and abilities, with the Scottish leg offering both 2km and half mile courses.
Commenting on the upcoming events, David Carroll of VisitLanarkshire said: “To host so many elite sporting events is a huge accolade for the Lanarkshire area and it demonstrates Strathclyde Country Park’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading outdoor water sports centres. It will be fantastic to see top athletes, as well as some of world’s up and coming stars, competing in such a beautiful setting and we hope that, after enjoying the action, visitors and spectators will take time to explore more of what Lanarkshire has to offer.”
Looking for accommodation?
If you're thinking of coming along to one of these top sporting events why not make the most of your trip with a stay at the AlonA Hotel. Set within the grounds of the idyllic Strathclyde Country Park, the AlonA Hotel offers stylish but comfortable accommodation within its 51 bedrooms. Prices start from £85.00 bed and breakfast for a double room and £95.00 bed and breakfast for a family room. Rates are per room per night.