World-beating brothers Alistair and Jonny Brownlee have joined forces with the National Trust to host their first-ever triathlon in Yorkshire this September.
Alistair, who won gold at the 2012 Olympics in London, and fellow Bingley Harrier Jonny, the reigning International Triathlon Union world champion, will stage this new event at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal near Ripon.
Olympic bronze medalist Jonny said: “As young children, our parents used to take us to Fountains Abbey for walks to try and wear us out, so we have good memories of the place.
“We want this triathlon to be part of our legacy and to see as many people take part as possible.”
The ‘Brownlee Tri’ will take place at the World Heritage Site on Saturday, September 21.
It will start with a 400 metres swim in Studley Royal lake, followed by a 10km bike ride through the location’s medieval deer park before culminating in a 2.5km run.
The run goes through Studley Royal water garden and the ruins of Fountains Abbey before finishing on the east green.
Alistair said: “The whole area around Fountains Abbey is a fantastic place to train as triathletes and a perfect fit for us.
“The paths and trails in the abbey’s estate are a lovely setting for a run, with great views of Ripon Cathedral and the Yorkshire Dales. The lanes close to the abbey are some of the best in the country for cycling.
“We’re very lucky in Yorkshire to have some of the finest countryside around and Fountains is a great place to see a lot of it.”
Chris Fowler, National Trust general manager at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, added: “This is going to be a unique event, not just for triathletes who will get to run through the iconic ruins but for spectators too.
“We’re thrilled that Alistair and Jonny are combining their love of triathlon with this special place – one of their favourite stop-off points when out training.”
Anyone interested in taking part in the Brownlee Tri can register for a place from 10am on Tuesday, June 4. For more information visit www.brownleetriathlon.com.
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