Hever Castle 2024 Race Report
Over 7,000+ athletes and supporters gathered at the iconic Hever Castle, and despite poor water conditions leading to the cancellation of the swim leg, competitors adapted enthusiastically. Triathletes participated in duathlons, while multisport athletes competed in various single-discipline events.
DAY ONE
After heavy rainfall in the lead-up, the event kicked off under perfect weather with the Sprint Plus athletes taking to the course. This popular race was followed by the Sprint Duathlon, a key race for those aiming to qualify for the 2025 European Sprint Championship. Participants completed a 5k run, 20k cycle, and 2.5k final run, testing both their endurance and speed. Congratulations to Will Lowden and Sarah Terry who were the fastest finishers.
Four waves of athletes competed in the Sprint distance race, while the Sprint Aquabikers tackled an undulating bike course and the Sprint Aquathletes conquered the run. A big congratulations to Jeremy Henwood and Emily Bannister, who emerged as winners of the Sprint Plus!
Team Phoenix – Racing with Heart
Saturday’s event was brightened by the inspiring presence of Team Phoenix, a Kent-based charity supporting women who have undergone breast cancer treatment. Through fitness programs, they help participants regain their well-being and confidence, with triathlon completion being one of their major achievements. We were honored to watch them compete, and their energy and spirit brought a wonderful dynamic to the event.
Team Phoenix Firebirds, you were incredible!
Bailey Matthews – Our Inspiration
A special moment of the day was watching Bailey Matthews complete his fourth Castle Race Series event of the year.
Despite living with Cerebral Palsy, Bailey’s determination to overcome any obstacle is a true inspiration to all. It is a privilege to have him as part of the Castle Race family.
Juniors – Our Future Champions
The day ended with our youngest competitors, the 9-10-year-olds, tackling their own challenging race, consisting of a 1.3km run, 4.2km bike, and another 1.3km run.
Congratulations to Luke Spicer and Madeleine Draper, who took the top spots. For many of these juniors, it was their first race, and we hope they enjoyed every moment!
DAY TWO
Sunday began with the highly anticipated Half Iron Gauntlet, where athletes faced a challenging run-bike-run format of 5.2km, 90km, and a half marathon. Many overcame personal battles to cross the finish line. Congratulations to Sven Sabas and Elizabeth Coakley, who were crowned champions!
The Standard and Middle Distance Duathlons followed, where middle-distance athletes ran 10.5km, cycled 90km, and finished with another 10.5km run. The standard distances were slightly shorter at 10.5km/40km/5.2km.
Olympic Distance and The Run Series
Later in the morning, over 500 Olympic Distance athletes took to the course, completing a 5.2km run, 40km bike, and a 10km run. This tough, undulating course was a test of both physical and mental strength. Huge congratulations to winners Chris Turner and Catherine Linney!
The Castle Run Series kicked off with the Marathon, where over 120 athletes took on the challenging course. Congratulations to James Gray and Holly Hayward for their impressive victories!
YOUTH AND JUNIORS
In the afternoon, the Half Marathon and 10k races took place. The Hever 10k is notorious for its tough, varied terrain, pushing athletes to their limits. Well done to Greg Dunning and Claire Lockwood, the Half Marathon winners!
The weekend concluded with the Junior and Youth athletes. It was so wonderful to see so many junior athletes race, we love watching the next generation enjoying the sport. A massive congratulations to the youth champions:
- 11-12: Isaac Armitage and Flavia Hitchings
- 13-14: Robin Greenwood and Sophie Richmond
- 15-16: Dylan Hanks and Katie Bunn
Thank you!
We appreciate the patience of all athletes and supporters, especially regarding some parking difficulties, we are truly grateful for your understanding and positivity. The car park conditions weren’t ideal, but we brought in resources to assist where needed. The race routes also required last-minute adjustments due to weather, and we thank you for bearing with us.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the volunteers, marshals, sponsors, and all the incredible staff who made this weekend possible. Despite the challenges, we managed to reconfigure the event successfully.
JOIN US IN 2025
Race Director Brian shared: “We’ve had an amazing weekend of racing at Hever Castle! A huge thank you to all our competitors, spectators, and the staff who helped us overcome the challenges. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back in 2025!”
For those eager to return next year, we are offering 30% off all 2025 races! Registration is quick and easy—just two minutes on our express form.
Don’t forget to share your photos using #RaceYourWay #CastleRaceSeries #HeverCastleMultisport2024, and leave your reviews on RaceCheck.
See you all in 2025!
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