A major triathlon festival is returning to Lochore Meadows Country Park next month.
Edinburgh RC cycling club has announced the festival will return to Fife after the success of last year’s event.
On August 28, hundreds of athletes of all ages and capabilities, from novice to elite, will run, cycle and swim in the open water of Loch Ore.
Local councillor Mark Hood, who chairs Fife Sports Partnership, said: “I’m delighted we are welcoming Edinburgh RC to Lochore Meadows once again this year.
“With around 600 competitors of various abilities visiting from all over Scotland, we’re once again delivering on our commitment to increasing sport and physical activity opportunities here in Fife.
“This event will showcase our beautiful country park to hundreds of visitors from outside Fife and I’ve no doubt that local people will once again come out to support the event.”
Having started out as a youth event, the Triathlon Festival will this year include National Standard Distance Triathlon Championships.
There will also be an open water novice race as well as a series of junior triathlons, or tristar races as they are also known.
Festival organiser Iain MacCormick said: “Lochore Meadows and the surrounding area lend themselves to a fantastic, beautiful and safe experience, for elite triathletes to those looking to experience the sport for the first time.
“The facilities at Lochore Meadows are second to none, and the support from Lochore Meadows staff, Fife Council and locally, from the Lochgelly and Lochore areas, has been absolutely brilliant. Everything is set up for an amazing day.
“The Triathlon Festival started out life as a juniors event. Our club coaches have put in a fantastic effort providing development and coaching for our expanding youth section, in particular our lead youth coach Jo Phillips, who came up with the plan to put on an event that the youth members could plan their training year towards.
“In keeping with the club ethos, we then sought to expand the event, and create a day that is open to all ages, abilities and capabilities.”