2024 Race Report

The 2024 Llandudno Triathlon & Duathlon wrapped up the season with near-perfect conditions, despite earlier forecasts of high winds. Athletes and spectators were greeted by a calm sea and a stunning pink sunrise, setting the stage for an exciting day of competition.

Though there was a slight chill in the air due to the late-season timing, the weather was otherwise ideal as athletes prepared for their races. The event attracted a range of competitors, including those vying for qualification in the British Triathlon European Championships and participants in the Welsh Triathlon Super Series Finale.

Standard Triathlon

The first wave of the standard triathlon set off at 8:50 a.m., with competitors tackling a 1500m swim (two laps of a 750m course). Leading out of the water was Ifan Bowen with a remarkable swim time of 20:18, followed by Finley Bruce at 21:32 and Iwan Froley close behind. Bowen maintained his lead during the 40km bike segment, completing four laps of the scenic Great Orme in 1:01:26. As the race progressed, Dafydd Jay moved into the top three, pushing Bruce into fourth place.

Bowen headed into the final 10km run holding his lead and crossed the finish line with an impressive sub-2-hour time. Iwan Froley secured second place in 2:00:13, achieving the fastest run split of the day. Dafydd Jay rounded out the podium in third.

In the women’s race, local athlete Rhian Roxburgh dominated from the start, emerging from the water with nearly a two-minute lead over Emma Palfrey, followed by Emilia Miller in third. On the bike course, Roxburgh continued to extend her lead, completing the 40km in 1:11:22. Lucy Marland moved into third during the bike leg, setting up a competitive run. Roxburgh held strong on the 10km run to claim victory for the third consecutive year. Palfrey finished second, with Marland securing third after posting the fastest run time among the women.

Standard Duathlon

Simultaneously with the triathlon, Llandudno hosted its first-ever Standard Duathlon, which started with a 5km run. Thomas Store led into the first transition (T1), followed by Llyr ap Geraint Roberts and Dylan Evans. The cycling leg on the same course as the triathletes saw a reshuffle, with Evans posting a superb 1:05:12 bike split to take the lead heading into the final 10km run. Evans held onto his advantage to take the overall win, followed by Store in second and Roberts in third.

In the women’s race, Terri Mason posted the fastest first run of 21:22, with Lindsay Prudie and Gaynor Seymour close behind. However, after the bike section, Prudie took the lead, with Mared Williams moving into second thanks to the fastest bike split of the race. Prudie maintained her advantage on the final run, finishing in 2:32:25. Williams came in second, while Carla Putz claimed the third spot on the podium.

Sprint Triathlon

The final event of the day, the Sprint Triathlon, featured two waves starting at 10:30 a.m. Competitors completed a 750m swim, with Nathan Walker emerging from the water first in 11:09. James Adamson and Ioan Wellsbury followed in second and third. On the bike leg, Harry Kinsley posted the fastest split (35:34), but Walker reclaimed the lead during the 5km run with an impressive time of 18:11, securing the win in 1:11:20. Ben Gethin finished second, and Kinsley took third.

In the women’s sprint race, Ciara Cust led from the start, exiting the water with over a minute's lead on second-place Emily Hanlon. Cust continued to dominate on the bike, completing the course in the fastest time. She maintained her lead on the run, crossing the line over eight minutes ahead of second-place finisher Lydia Hughes. Emily Hanlon took third, just 30 seconds behind Hughes.

The Standard Triathlon which was also the finale of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series and was being filmed for S4C (this can be seen on BBC iplayer and S4C on 18/10/24 at 8pm). Rhian Roxburgh and Ifan Bowen claimed the stage victories, with Bowen also securing the overall series title. Lucy Marland took the overall women's series win.

Tim Lloyd, Director of Always Aim High Events, shared his enthusiasm: "It’s fantastic to return to Llandudno for our final triathlon of the season. Llandudno truly offers an unbeatable setting for this event, with the closed-road section around the Great Orme providing a perfect challenge for the athletes. The promenade was packed with spectators, creating an incredible atmosphere.

We’re proud to have once again hosted the finale of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series and the European Championship qualifier. We're already excited about coming back next year to make this event even better.

I want to extend a huge thank you to Conwy Council, local businesses, and residents for their ongoing support. Special thanks to the St George Hotel for hosting registration so conveniently near the transition area—it made a real difference. And, as always, we couldn’t do it without our amazing marshals and volunteers. Their dedication is what makes these races truly exceptional."

Full Llandudno race results by TDL Event Services.
Race photography courtesy of Sport Pictures Cymru.

Selected 2024 Llandudno Triathlon results