Local Bands Offered Centre Stage at Jenson Button Trust Triathlon
A local band will be given the opportunity to perform live as part of the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon in Markeaton Park on Sunday July 12.
Organisers are offering one band the chance to perform on stage at the Event Village in the park as part of the day of entertainment, events and activities for spectators and competitors.
Hundreds of novice, amateur and professional triathletes, including F1 McLaren Honda driver Jenson Button and renowned chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay, will be competing on the day.
Many more thousands of people or expected to come to cheer on the competitors at the park, along the bike route into the Cathedral Quarter and enjoy the festival atmosphere in the Event Village.
The successful local band will be performing on stage alongside other acts which will be confirmed nearer the event.
Freddie Cunningham from the Jenson Button Trust explained: "We are keen to showcase local talent on stage and want bands from Derby and the surrounding area to send us You Tube links to their music so that we can pick one of them to appear on stage.
“The Event Village is an important part of the whole event and we are looking forward to bringing the festival atmosphere to Markeaton Park as part of the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon.
"There will be host of things for spectators to see and do throughout the day and then, after the prize giving, there is always a real party atmosphere as competitors and spectators alike relax and enjoy some great food and drink and live music.”
Derby City Council has been closely involved with the organisation of the event – working with Derby-based HUUB Events.
Leader Cllr Ranjit Banwait said: “It’s a priority for the City Council to create opportunities for local people and the Jenson Button Triathlon is just that.
“I’d encourage local people to come forward to showcase their talents and for local school groups or bands to take up the opportunity to get some performance experience.
Thanks to our musicians Markeaton Park will be alive with the sound of music on race day and will make for a fantastic, family-friendly, festival atmosphere.”
The Trust has also released early details of what will be available to competitors and spectators alike in the Event Village in Markeaton Park.
Attractions will include a Mobil 1 Pit Stop Experience, F1 Simulator, Athlete Recovery tent, Huub retail stand, Bike Maintenance and much more from brands including Santander, Rudy Project, Swim Smooth, National Trust, 220 Triathlon Magazine and Percol Coffee.
During the day, triathlon competitors will get the chance to race twice, with the preliminary heat consisting of a 200m lake swim, 11km cycle and a 2.5km run. The top performers will go on to the final, 400m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run, with the runners up entering the wooden spoon race.
Mr Cunningham concluded: "We are particularly excited that, for the first time in the event’s history, competitors will race along closed city roads as part of the cycle route, making it one of a very limited number of UK triathlons that have a closed road city centre cycle route.”
Bands are invited to send You Tube links by Wednesday July 1 to info@sports-partnership.com
The closing date for entries for the individual or Team Challenge events is Friday July 3. For more information and to register for the event, please visit www.jensonbuttontri.com and, for latest news and training tips, please follow on Twitter @JBTrustTri
The event will raise money for the Jenson Button Trust and Cancer Research UK.