The 27th St Ives Biathlon took place at the weekend, with hundreds of spectators lining the streets and more than 250 people competing.
St Ives mayor Johnnie Wells gets competitors under way. Photograph: Dan Byers Photography
Izzie Leigh and Connor Keeler won the respective women’s and men’s open events.
Team Marsh/Craze finished first in the open teams, where one person runs and another swims. Team Sousek/Sparkes finished first in the junior teams, with Evie Skinner and William Davies winning the female and male junior contests.
Emilia Hoggett Crisp and Joshua Hoggett Crisp won the women’s and men’s novice race, with Elsie and Harvey O’Dell winning the novice teams race. The vet race (for over-40-year-ols) was won by Nichola Brierley and Tim Poate; with the super vets (over-50s) won by Nikki Bristow and Matt Leigh. The senior vet race (over-60s) was won by Caroline Leighton and Steven Hansford.
The open, vets, super vets, and senior vets races saw participants run from St Ives’ harbour slipway to Carbis Bay Beach, before swimming back to the start. Novice and junior racers ran from the slipway to the far end of Porthminster Beach before swimming back to the start line.
New and returning participants travelled from as far as Southampton and Coventry to take part, with the most senior competitor aged 66.
Entry fees, business sponsorship, and donations/sales are now being calculated. The event is a significant fundraiser for St Ives Surf Life Saving Club, who have been running for 68 years and who rely on the biathlon for vital club funds.
Sponsored by Cornish Riviera Holidays, the event is supported by a wide range of local organisations, who donate services and goods.
“We would like to thank the many local organisations who support us in organising the event each year and help to keep people safe whilst participating,” said Chris Harris, chair of St Ives Surf Life Saving Club and biathlon event lead.
“We would like to thank everyone involved, including SISLSC committee members, RNLI Lifeguards for their continued dedication and support late into a Saturday evening, RNLI inshore lifeboat crew, club board paddlers and lifeguards, marshalls, stallholders, goody bag packers, kit transporters, the Fisherman’s Lodge for the use of the lodges, Carbis Bay Hotel for supplying a water station, and many businesses for raffle prizes.
Chris added: “Alongside the phenomenal logistical support we receive in organising the biathlon, we are also reliant on the generosity of local businesses who sponsor it and donate services in kind, so that we can meet the growing costs of the event, whilst also raising vital funds for our club. We would like to thank all of our business sponsors, many of whom have supported us year-on-year, including our title sponsor Cornish Riviera Holidays.”
Matt Nellyer, co-director of Cornish Riviera Holidays, with Andy Dale, said: “The biathlon is always an exciting event for the town, drawing in participants and spectators. The atmosphere this year was fantastic, with hundreds of supporters across the harbour front and lining the route.
“It has been a great event and we would like to say well done to St Ives Surf Lifesaving Club and everyone involved for organising such a successful event again this year.”#
