Swim, bike, run hits the streets of Canary Wharf

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Teams from across the business and charity sector took to Canary Wharf on 10 September for the second edition of the Accenture Mixed Relay Triathlon Canary Wharf.

The 2019 Accenture Mixed Relay Triathlon Canary Wharf saw teams of two men and two women each complete a 300m swim, 5km cycle and 1.5km run before handing over to their next teammate for a combined time. Accenture Tri Club defended their title from 2018, crossing the finish line in a winning time of 01:17:17.

Ruth Hetherington, captain from Accenture Tri Club, said after crossing the line: “It’s absolutely brilliant to be out on the streets of Canary Wharf and to look up from the water and see the skyscrapers, something a bit different from the normal views you get when open water swimming.

“Mixed relay’s a great format because you have men and women competing equally with and against one another, it brings a really special team aspect to triathlon.”  

Once participant A from the 39 teams had been welcomed onto the pontoon, it was over to GB athlete Tom Bishop to start the race. The weather held, and as the sun set and the lights of Canary Wharf came on, the action on the streets below started to liven up.

From the pontoon, the teams started to spread throughout Middle Dock with some quick female swimmers opening the race. With crowds making their way onto the dockside to cheer the athletes along, the static bikes were buzzing with activity as the teams set out on the visual 5km course around Canary Wharf.

Once the handovers were complete and the second leg athletes were out on the course, it was the Third Space team who established a lead. With a number of teams chasing them at various intervals, there was a lot of exchanging of positions throughout the race. Eventual winners, Accenture Tri Club, took over with a strong swim to establish their lead on the third leg. They held this lead as the final athlete took over and took the tape for the second year running.

Accenture Mixed Relay Triathlon Canary Wharf 2019 top 3: Accenture Tri Club (01:17:17); Third Space (01:19:21); Morgan Stanley Shufflers (01:19:41). 

FULL RESULTS

 

Organised in aid of Official Charity Partners, The Prince’s Trust and Triathlon Trust, the Accenture Mixed Relay Triathlon Canary Wharf provided amateur athletes with one of only a handful of opportunities to compete in the Olympics’ newest triathlon format.

This unique and exciting race saw teams compete across a compact course with a swim in Middle Dock; a static, virtual bike ride in Jubilee Plaza; before finishing with a run along Bank Street.

Ben Cummings, British Triathlon Director of Commercial and Major Events, said “Congratulations to Accenture Tri Club for their victory tonight in what was an exciting race in a stunning setting.

“My thanks go to Accenture and Canary Wharf, and of course the volunteers, spectators and our delivery team who make this event possible. Accenture do so much to support British Triathlon and Mixed Team Relay. It’s fantastic to see this event come to life in such a unique location.” 

Julian Skan, Accenture MD, said: “It was a spectacular evening and competitive race. Mixed relay is a brilliant format that we’re so proud to support; and giving people the opportunity to take part in triathlon as a team, is fantastic. Well done to everyone who took part!”

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