The Little Beaver World Championship qualifying race proved testing for the country’s top age-group triathletes.

Date: 23 May 2009                           

Location: Belvoir Castle, Belvoir, Leicestershire, UK

Format: 1500m swim / 40km bike / 10km run

Organiser: Just Racing UK Ltd.

Website: www.justracinguk.com

The organisers warned competitors this race had a couple of hills. They omitted to mention the only flat section on the run was the last 100m to the finish!

As for the bike course, this defied physical and geographical possibilities by being at least 90% uphill and continuously into a headwind.

But really we should start at the beginning.

If you ever plan to do this event, allow plenty of time to get to the venue. I struggled. It took almost as long to cover the last few miles of (delightfully scenic) country lanes as it did to reach the motorway exit from London. The way I came seemed to be devoid of signposts and the organisers might want to consider putting up more of their own.

You will also need to be prepared for a long hike from parking to event HQ and it’s well worth taking all your kit with you right from the beginning.

On the other hand, Just Racing UK is an experienced and competent event organiser and had check-in smoothly under control, sufficient toilets to prevent excessive queuing and motivational music to set the tone. They’d also arranged (at least on this occasion) for glorious sunshine.

The swim takes place in a (presumably) artificial, very shallow and silty lake. Visibility under the water was nil and one competitor finished with blood on his knuckles, possibly from scraping the bottom (although maybe he’d punched someone and wouldn’t admit it). Still, the course was well marked and the water allegedly warm enough to make wet suits optional. However, I didn’t see anyone brave enough to take up that option.

This race should possibly be billed as a swim-run-bike-run event due to the 500m uphill cross-country dash from swim exit to T1. In my opinion, this was the toughest part of the course, but that could be because I fell over trying to get my wetsuit off while running and immediately got cramp in both legs.

Belvoir (pronounced Beaver) Castle, one would assume, derived its name from beautiful view, and I suspect both the bike and run sections delivered fantastic scenery. But the Little Beaver is a tough race with little scope for sight-seeing. The race briefing says, “you will enjoy the finish line.” Absolutely. It was a very welcome sight. And having the last mile downhill is a great way to end.

Overall, a well organised event with a slightly short bike (23 miles not 25) and a very tough run. The long run from swim to T1 is a pain but difficult to see how it could be changed and, as the race director pointed out, it is the same for everyone.

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