As part of the Get Active Northumberland Festival, the ‘One Life Standard Distance Triathlon’ was voted North East race of the year for 2007 at the recent 'British Triathlon North East Presentation Evening', as voted for by athletes in the region.

Funded through Northumberland Sport with a generous contribution from Culture10 and organised by One Life (local Triathlon club), this high quality race took place on Sunday 16th September 2007 at Druridge Bay Country Park in Northumberland and attracted hundreds of competitors who were either at or close to being in the elite class.

This is a tremendous & significant achievement for Northumberland, the first time a race in the county has won this award as competition is always very strong in the region.  We will now build on this success next year and are pleased to confirm that this will be 1 of only 4 British Triathlon National ranking events held next year in the UK.  This will take place on Sunday 14th September 2008 as part of the Get Active Northumberland Festival 2008.

Northumberland Sport Chairman, Steve Cram MBE said “it was great to see this event attracting so many top quality athletes to the North East and in particular Northumberland.  The stunning scenery the site at Druridge has to offer provided spectators with clear views of each race over the weekend which added to their enjoyment.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who participated in this year’s festival and congratulate Alistair Brownlee (reigning Junior World Triathlon Champion) on winning the men’s ‘Standard Distance’ event and Alice Hectoron on winning the female event and hope these tremendous efforts inspire more to compete again next year.”

Festival organisers Northumberland Sport are now working with partners and race organisers to ensure events in future years maintain this high quality experience for competitors in Northumberland.  To demonstrate this, a bid for the 2009 Northumberland Sport Triathlon ‘Olympic Standard Distance’ event to have World Championship Qualifying status has recently been submitted.

- ends-

For further press information, please contact:

Lee Sprudd                                    
01670 785031          07795014285                                                          
Lsprudd@northumberland.gov.uk                          

Note to Editors
Northumberland Sport
Northumberland Sport is a County Sports Partnership which comprises a range of statutory and non-statutory organisations and a wider network of stakeholders, all of whom contribute to the strategic direction and operational activities of the Partnership.  Partners include Sport England, Northumberland County Council, Local Authorities, Leisure Trusts, Northumberland Care Trust, Northumbria University, National Governing Bodies of Sport and School Sport Partnerships.

Get Active Northumberland
‘Get Active Northumberland’ is a new campaign launched by Northumberland Sport in 2007 to encourage people in Northumberland to get active and stay active.

Further Information
For further information about Northumberland Sport, Triathlon or the Get Active Northumberland campaign, please visit www.northumberlandsport.co.uk