HISTORY OF SALFORD TRI

THE HISTORY OF SALFORD TRIATHLON


From the year 2000 triathlon (swim, bike, run) was becoming increasingly popular and the Greater Manchester’s councils created a role for a Triathlon Development Officer who would encourage the sport at a grass roots level in the community. The interest was incredible and it was from here that the Millennium Waterfronts Triathlon (MWT) was born.


The MWT combined the north west regional championships and national championships for under 21's - with 500 people competing for the titles, including Richard Allen, Richard Stannard, and Jodie Swallow.


The Early Days - The National Triathlon Champs

The success of that first event was proved when Salford won the right to hold the National Triathlon Championships in 2001 - attracting 1,000 competitors from all over the world, including a host of big names for the elite races, like Simon Whitfield and Leanda Cave. It was the first time the Nationals had come to the North of the country and the Race Director at the time said "This has been the best course in the country for competitors. Having a closed city centre course is very rare and lets athletes go right into the heart of Manchester - creating a fantastic atmosphere between them and the spectators."


Those Championships proved to be an important rehearsal for the Triathlon at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester - which then ran over the tried and tested course. Over 100,000 spectators lined the route to view one of the few free Games events and the atmosphere they created was amazing as Simon Whitfield and Carol Montgomery raced to gold!

The Commonwealth Games Legacy & the ITU Tri World Champs


A legacy of the Commonwealth Games in 2002 was the awarding of a leg of the 2003 World Cup to Salford. Further successful events in the following years allowed Salford City Council to bid to host the 2010 ITU Triathlon World Championships. The bid, however, was unsuccessful. 


Time for Transformation


The suspension of Salford Triathlon in 2008 marked the beginning of its end as an international event, primarily due to its conflict with the 2008 Beijing Olympics which made it challenging to secure elite competitors.


Compounding these issues were the absence of broadcast coverage from BBC Sport, which had been crucial for visibility and sponsorship in prior years, and extensive construction disruptions for the MediaCityUK development directly adjacent to the event's transition area at Salford Quays. These logistical barriers, including site access and noise, rendered the venue unsuitable for hosting the event.

View from the Council


At the time Salford City Council leader Cllr John Merry expressed deep disappointment, highlighting the "very frustrating process" and logistical challenges: "The length of time our discussions have taken mean the sporting calendar became more crowded, reducing the field for our event, and it meant potential funding and sponsorship partners would be harder to find... it was becoming increasingly difficult to make the financial numbers stack up in time." He emphasized the event's importance to the city and his determination to pursue future events.

Making a huge splash!


The original Salford Triathlon contributed to the long-term growth of triathlon in the UK by establishing the region as a hub for the sport during its early 2000s expansion. The event's success in hosting national championships and international races helped promote grassroots participation and fostered widespread interest. Early events attracted over 1,000 competitors and elite athletes, enhancing Salford's reputation as a capable host city for multi-sport events. Additionally, the infrastructure developed around Salford Quays, including facilities at MediaCityUK, provided lasting benefits for local sports, supporting subsequent community races despite the absence of ITU-level prestige.

Revival as a Salford Community Event


In the 2010s, the Salford Triathlon was revived as a local, non-ITU event and its relaunch welcomed over 900 competitors across various distances for the first time in six years marking the beginning of community-focused events which continue to this day.


The modern, high energy annual Salford Triathlon & Aquabike has been delivered by Salford-based Event Organisers Qswim Adventure since the early 2020s with the emphasis on community engagement, a welcoming atmosphere, and post-race celebrations with medals and prizes. Many of the annual 500+ participants live within the Greater Manchester area and the event provides annual volunteer and work opportunities to over 50 local people in addition to financially benefitting local charities.


From Elites to Participants, the Journey Continues


From an elite-orientated competition, the modern Salford Triathlon has evolved towards inclusive, community-oriented racing without professional series status, focusing on participation rather than elite pathways. It continues to positively enrich Salford Quays and the wider MediaCity area bringing many thousands of people to enjoy its facilities.


The legacy continues!