In response to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 the organisers and sponsors took the difficult decision to cancel the annual triathlon event. Determined to showcase the triathlon event in Jersey for 2020 the team produced a successful Accuro Jersey Triathlon – Virtual Challenge.

The Virtual Challenge allowed participants to take on the three disciplines of triathlon (swim, bike and run) in their own  location and in their own time, over a three-week period commencing on 1st July and finishing on the 19th July, thus ensuring that physical distancing was maintained throughout.

In total, over four hundred people participated in the Virtual Triathlon Challenge and the event welcomed people of all abilities and ages from eight to sixty-six years. The approachable and non-competitive event format allowed organisers to welcome many new people to the sport of triathlon and also to welcome many people from overseas to participate in the event. Organisers say that they have had people participate from countries such as Brazil, Canada, France, Mauritius, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Jersey and Guernsey.

Fundraising was central to the Virtual Challenge and with the support of the participants the event has now raised over £5,000 for the event’s two official charities; Brightly, Alzheimer’s Jersey and the event’s benefitting entity, The Oscar MacLean  Foundation.

The three-week challenge ended on Sunday 19th July with an exciting virtual bike race as part of the Accuro Jersey Triathlon Inter-Insular Cup. Jersey and Guernsey’s fastest qualifying athletes went head to head (from their own respective Islands) in a series of age grouped Zwift bike races, in order to place in the top three of each race and score valuable points for their Island.

REGISTRATIONS:
Sprint Distance : 202
Sprint Distance Duathlon : 29
Super Sprint Distance : 26
Super Sprint Distance Duathlon : 12
Sprint Relay Teams : 14 (42 competitors)
JUNIOR (8 years – 14 years) : 85
TOTAL: 396

COUNTRY BREAKDOWN:
GUERNSEY : 45
JERSEY : 298
UK : 25
CANADA :1
FRANCE : 5
SWITZERLAND : 11
SWEDEN : 2
NETHERLANDS : 3
MAURITIUS : 2
BRAZIL : 1

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