Last season, Mark Buckingham completed the 5km run, 20km bike and 2.5km run fastest to win the title for the second successive year with Lucy Gossage taking top honours in the women's race.

 

Prestwold will host the traditional season-opener for the fourth successive year and for the first time includes an elite paraduathlon for all six classifications. This will provide an opportunity for many of the GE Great Britain Paratriathlon Team to get some early season racing in, and test out their winter training.

 

The event will also host the British Elite Youth and Junior Duathlon Championships, which will double as the first race in the 2013 British Triathlon Youth and Junior Super Series. Many of Britain’s top juniors have used the event as a springboard for the rest of the season as Richard Horton illustrated by finishing third overall and first junior in the 2012 event. Richard then went on to win gold at the ITU Junior Duathlon Championships and ETU Powerman Junior Sprint Duathlon European Championships last year.

 

Richard commented on the event: "It was the duathlon at Prestwold that actually got me started in multisport. It's a great way to open the season with a real tough race from start to finish. Being able to finish on the podium against Mark [Buckingham] and Matt [Gunby] was a great experience and set me up for the Europeans and Worlds. The airfield venue doesn't take any prisoners and really tests early season form. Anyone aiming to take the title will need to have had a solid winter's training behind them."

 

Ian Braid, British Triathlon Director for Major and National Events commented: “As the 2012 season comes to an end, it’s great to be able to confirm the first British Elite Championships for next season. The event will give many of our elite athletes, the opportunity to get their season off to a winning-start and as Richard Horton illustrated winning the junior title in Prestwold before going on to win both world and European junior titles in 2012, can be a great indication of performances to come.”

 

Alan Rose of Just Racing added: “We are very proud to be hosting the British Elite Duathlon Championships again.  It’s always a privilege to watch exciting young athletes take part in the Youth and Junior Championships, as well as seeing the elite men and women start their season with us.”

 

The event is organised by Just Racing (UK) on behalf of British Triathlon with entries now open at http://www.justracinguk.com