PREPARATIONS for a St Ives charity’s annual flagship event are progressing swimmingly, as it welcomes registrations.

St Ives Surf Life Saving Club’s annual Biathlon, sponsored by Penwith College, will take place on the evening of Saturday, June 22.

Pre-entries are gathering pace following nearly 200 participants already registered from across Cornwall and as far afield as London and Southampton, as well as overseas.

The St Ives Biathlon aims to attracting new members to its club, whilst raising much needed funds to keep the charity running.

The popular event with locals and visitors alike, the Biathlon’s legacy dates back more than a quarter of a century, with a swim in St Ives harbour known as The Sloop Slog.

Organisers are delighted that The Sloop continues to support the Biathlon year on year, with a free pint for every adult that finishes, alongside a free pasty for all participants thanks to The Cornish Bakehouse, which continues its many years of support.

Chris Simpson, the chair of St Ives Surf Life Saving Club, said: “The St Ives Biathlon is a long-standing event enjoyed by many locals, as well as attracting visitors to the town.

“It is a crucial event for our club, which is why we are so grateful to all of the businesses that support it to enable us to raise funds.

“We are thankful that many of our sponsors return year on year, bringing funds to the club but also goodies for our entrants.

“Alongside the long-standing tradition of a pasty and a pint curtesy of The Sloop and Cornish Bakehouse, our business supporters include: Penwith College – who are our headline sponsor once again, Tegen Mor Fisheries Consultants Ltd, Cohort Educational Trips, Mermaid Bistro, Aspects Holidays, Ayr Holiday Park, Tregenna Castle, Cornish Riviera Holidays, RRL, Carbis Bay Hotel, Carbis Bay Holidays, Dales Motor Group, Porthmeor Beach Café, W J Winn Funeral Director, Greenwood Wilson, SITA with BID, Hub St Ives, Symons Construction, Poynton Bradbury Architects, A1 Cars, Luxury Coastal, Polmanter Touring Park, So St Ives, St Ives Signs, Cornish Spliced and Eventy - Marketing & PR who look after all of our sponsors and our PR.”

“The event would not be possible without this support, alongside the amazing members and committee who help make the event happen, plus all the organisations that pitch in to organise and ensure the event can take part safely such as the RNLI, St. Ives Town Council, all our marshals and dedicated first aider Anya Piotrowicz covering the event on the day.

“As well as pasty and pint tokens, each entrant will receive goodies such as a pen and OnCourse magazine from Penwith College, a discount voucher from Cornish Spliced as well as a £50 golden ticket for one lucky entrant, pen and flower seeds from W J Winn Funeral Director, pen from Tregenna Castle, and more, all inside a beautiful Jute goody bag provided by Cornish Riviera Holidays.”

The event has grown over the years with many entrants returning, as well as attracting new competitors who want to undertake a personal challenge or add the St Ives Biathlon to their sporting calendar; some are even tempted by the free pasty and pint that has become a notorious reward!

The most popular category in previous years has been the open and veterans, which have seen up to 250 participants run through the streets of the town starting from the harbour, following the coast path towards Carbis Bay beach for approximately 1.5 miles, before swimming back to the harbour slipway for another 1.5 miles.

The event also features two other categories, open to 250 participants each: with the junior race running to Porthminster beach before swimming back; and the novice race following the same route.

Each category is also open to team entries, with one person running and one swimming.

On line pre-entries are open until 7th June, guaranteeing a commemorative event t-shirt and discounted entry price reduced from £40 to £35 for the open/veterans; £30 to £25 for the novice; £25 to £18 for the junior and £25 for the teams; competitors can also register to enter from 3pm until 5.30pm on the day at the harbour slipway. 

To enter visit stivesbiathlon.enginehousetickets.co.uk/events/62504  

Those interested in competing in the Biathlon should register online ASAP, whilst those interested in helping with organisation should contact St Ives Surf Life Saving Club via its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/stivessurflifesavingclub