Families Gear Up To Be More Bailey
More than 50 youngsters have signed up for the free Be More Bailey family triathlon challenge which will take place in Markeaton Park on Sunday July 17 as part of the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon.
During the JBTT lunchtime break – the Be More Bailey family challenge will start with a 50m swim in the lake then head out onto the closed roads for a 2.5km cycle before a 750m run – crossing the same finishing line as the JBTT triathletes. Entry for the family challenge is free to enter and available to children aged seven and over who compete alongside an adult. They will join nine-year-old Bailey Matthews, who shot to fame when he received awards for his courage and determination in the ‘Pride of Britain’ and ‘BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015’ who will start and then compete in the race with his dad Jonathan.
The Doncaster schoolboy, who has Celebral Palsy, first captured the hearts of the nation when a video of him casting aside his walking frame to cross a triathlon race finishing line went viral. The Jenson Button Trust offered Bailey the chance to spearhead the family challenge, at Markeaton Park on July 17, organised by Derby-based HUUB Events. Bailey, who has has received online messages of support from celebrities including Simon Cowell and Gordon Ramsay, said today: “I am really pleased that so many people have already signed up to join my triathlon which will hopefully be a really good event. “This is all about taking part and having a go. There are no winners or losers – it will be great for everyone to enjoy a great day of sport and watch the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon before and after our event.”
Among the competitors is David Nelson, partner at Midlands business advisers and accountants Smith Cooper who are sponsoring the Team Challenge event in the JBTT. David will compete in the main triathlon and will then join his seven-year-old son Lucas for the Be More Bailey family challenge. David said: “I took part in the JBTT last year which was my first triathlon and I really enjoyed it. “The event was a lot of fun and very non-elitist. The top guys obviously know what they are doing and race ahead but I was really pleased with my time of 46 minutes and will be looking to improve on this year. “Having the chance to do a mini-triathlon alongside Lucas is a real treat. He watched Bailey’s video challenging everyone to join him at Markeaton Park and was really keen to compete.”
Meanwhile, more than 500 people and teams from the local area and across the UK have already signed up for the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon, which won Event of the Year in the recent 220 Triathlon national awards.
The event, which previously took place near Luton, was held at Markeaton Park for the first time in July 2015 when more than 400 competitors took part – cheered on by thousands of spectators in the park and along the cycle route through the city centre.
This year’s event will be even bigger with capacity for up to 800 elite, seasoned and novice triathletes. - competing alongside Formula 1 McLaren Honda racing driver Jenson Button in a day of sport. Everyone will get the chance to race twice. The preliminary will consist of a 200m swim in Markeaton Lake; 10km cycle from the park and on closed roads into the city’s Cathedral Quarter before returning to the park to complete a 2.5km run.
In the individual event, the top male and female performers will then go on to the finals – completing a 400m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run, with the runners up entering the wooden spoon race.
Teams of three in the Smith Cooper Team Challenge participants will race twice over the Super Sprint distance and the team with the fastest average time will emerge victorious. The prize fund available to competitors is one of the largest for a UK based sprint triathlon. A grand total of £7,000 will be on offer, split between the male and female categories.
Spectators are invited to join in the fun. As well as the opportunity to watch the competitors in action, a wide range of family activities will also be held at the event village set up in Markeaton Park. The day will culminate in medal presentations by Jenson Button and a post-race party for participants with live music and locally-produced food and drink. Funds raised by the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon will again support Cancer Research UK.
Registrations for the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon and the Be More Bailey Challenge will close on July 10. To enter and for more information, please visit www.jensonbuttontri.com and, for latest news and training tips, please follow on Twitter @JBTrustTri and www.bemorebaileytri.com