The first Markel Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon Festival takes place on Sunday, June 3rd amidst the stunning surroundings of one of Ireland’s hidden castle treasures overlooking Europe’s largest privately owned lake, just outside Gort, Co. Galway. The race caters for all, whether first timers or elites and is one of the few triathlons designed for families and children. Lough Cutra is the first Irish venue to join with the Castle Triathlon series which currently runs events in the UK and France. Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon will have olympic, mid-olympic and sprint categories as well as races for children aged 11-15 and 8-10. You can enter either as an individual, a relay team of two, or a relay team of three. The Junior and Children’s races follow the same format. Relay entries can be all male, all female or mixed. If you would like to enter (but not compete) as a family, by entering the Sprint or Olympic distance for two adults and any three Junior or Children’s entries, you will be rewarded on price. All races at Lough Cutra Castle start by launching into an open water swim in the lake, transitioning into the technical cycle route that circumnavigates Lough Cutra itself in a 20KM loop. There will be one cycle lap for the Sprint and two laps for both the Mid and Olympic distances. The run passes through the stunning estate grounds and deer park and has one lap for the Sprint and two laps for the Mid-Distance and Olympic races. The race culminates with a sprint through the grand stables and down the main drive to the finish in front of Lough Cutra Castle itself.