By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 12:47, Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Three Carlisle-based triathletes have launched a sports-event business called Sport in Action.

From left, Brian Allen, Adrian Sowerby and Phil Whitehead

Adrian Sowerby, Brian Allen and Phil Whitehead are respectively vice chairman, secretary and chairman of Carlisle Tri Club.

They plan to offer road races, duathlons and triathlons in northern England and south-west Scotland.

Their first event is the 10km Resolution Road Race from Carlisle Racecourse this Sunday.

All three have represented Great Britain and competed all over the world from sprint triathlons and duathlons to the gruelling one-day endurance event, ironman racing.

Mr Whitehead, 32, of Durdar, said: “We have worked together for the last three or four years putting events on for Carlisle Tri Club. When Adrian retired from sport, he hit on the idea of Sport in Action.”

The intention is to plug the gap between club-organised events, run entirely by volunteers, and commercial events that can have prohibitively high entry fees.

Sport in Action aims to offer the slick professionalism of the latter, at a more modest cost for participants.

Entry fees for the Ullswater Triathlon this summer, for example, are around £40.

All three men have full-time jobs, so are not depending on the new venture to make ends meet.

Mr Whitehead said: “Ultimately, there has to be some financial reward but it’s more a labour of love. It’s never going to make us vast amounts of money.”

Mr Sowerby, an inspector with Cumbria Police, added:“We hope to show off some hidden gems of the area, and use a combination of existing routes and new ones. There will be challenges for athletes of all abilities.

“We believe that we have the right experience to know what triathletes and runners want.”

Sunday’s road race uses quiet country roads, which should make for a fast course and competitive racing. Entry costs £8 for UK Athletics-affiliated runners and £10 for others, and will be taken on the day.

The race starts at 11am.

Future events include the Carlisle City Aquathlon on March 13, the Longtown 10 on April 6, Talkin Tarn Sprint Duathlon on April 21, and Ullswater Triathlon on July 13.

This begins with a 1.5km swim in the lake, followed by an undulating 40km biking route through Askham and Lowther, and finishing with a flat 10km run around Pooley Bridge.

For more information, visit www.sportinaction.co.uk or email info@sportinaction.co.uk

First published at 11:42, Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk