World champ leads triathlon challenge (From Croydon Guardian)

Crystal Palace hosts disabled triathlon

3:30pm Monday 20th August 2012 in Local news By Nick Hitchens

World paratriathlon champion Jane Egan led the way as 250 competitors took on the second annual Tri Together challenge.

Building on the back of the incredible achievement of the Brownlee brothers in taking gold and bronze in the Olympic triathlon, the event, in Crystal Palace encourages both able bodied and disabled competitors to get involved.

The growing popularity of triathlon was emphasised on Sunday with Leonard Cheshire Disability, the event organisers, pointing to the fact 82 per cent of those involved were newcomers.

The sport will also be included as a discipline in the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics in 2016. World champion Egan, said: "It’s been a fantastic day and it’s really encouraging to see so many people of all ages and abilities getting into sport and taking an interest in triathlon and paratriathlon.

"Tri Together could be the perfect opportunity for budding future triathletes and paratriathletes to put their skills to the test."

The day started at 11am with an indoor 400m swim, followed by a 15km cycle through Crystal Palace Park and a 5km run finishing in the Jubilee Stadium.

To see full results, timings and photographs and to register for next year’s event, visit www.lcdisability.org/tritogether