Canal triathlon will not go ahead this year

The popular Montgomery Canal Triathlon will not take place this year after organisers said they had been unable to assemble a team to run the event.

The Friends of the Montgomery Canal announced the cancellation with “regret”, blaming the loss of several key members of the organising team and a shortage of volunteers willing to take on leadership roles.

The event, which is usually held in September and attracts competitors from across the UK and beyond, had been expected to return this year. Organisers said demand remained strong, with a waiting list already in place.

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Christine Palin said the decision had been difficult given the event’s popularity.

“The Montgomery Canal Triathlon is a most popular and successful event with a great reputation of being friendly, well organised with really good facilities for participants,” she said.

“Over the years entries have come from our local area and from across Britain, sometimes from abroad too. Many come year after year, often with friends or family, sometimes several generations.”

The cancellation is likely to disappoint competitors and supporters across Montgomeryshire and the borderlands, where the event has become a regular fixture in the calendar.

The triathlon is also one of the Friends of the Montgomery Canal’s biggest fundraising and promotional events, helping to raise awareness of the waterway and generate money for restoration work.

Mrs Palin said organisers had received offers of help but had not yet been able to recruit enough people to complete the team needed to prepare and run the event.

“We know that people wanted to join the event this year – there was even a waiting list,” she said.

“We are keen to carry on building a team to organise the next Triathlon, hopefully in September next year.

“We are delighted that a number of volunteers have offered to help but we do still need to complete an organising team for the various preparations before the event.”

The event has raised thousands of pounds over the years for the Restore the Montgomery Canal appeal. Organisers said recent proceeds had helped support volunteers rewatering sections of canal that had been derelict for around 80 years.

Despite this year’s cancellation, the Friends of the Montgomery Canal hope to revive the triathlon in 2027 and are appealing for more volunteers to come forward.

Anyone interested in helping organise future events is asked to contact triathlon@themontgomerycanal.org.uk.