Tri Liverpool welcomed over 400 first-time triathletes today, offering them a fantastic triathlon experience in the heart of the iconic Liverpool City Centre.

Crowds came out on force to support their friends and family, with a carnival atmosphere surrounding the iconic Albert Docks and Echo Arena.

Over the past four years, the event has attracted a growing number of beginners on the back of working with the Lifestyle Leisure Centres in the city. Participants are able to head to one of their local gyms to take part in low cost training sessions, to help them prepare for the big day.

As well as this, a series of three beginner open water swim sessions have been hosted within the docks, the perfect way for first-timers to build their confidence.

Tri Liverpool was accessible to people of all ages and abilities, with waves including sprint distance and sprint relay, GO TRI+ and This Girl Can waves covering a 400m swim, 10km cycle and 2.5km run.

Jenny Vincent, Women’s Participation Manager at British Triathlon, says; “It’s been fantastic to see so many women enthusiastic about giving our great sport a go. To see so many smiling faces after competitors crossed the finish line was incredibly inspiring and really goes to show that triathlon is a sport for women of all ages, levels of fitness and body shapes.”

A few famous faces also joined the amateur waves including Hollyoaks actors Jared Garfield (Nathan Nightingale) and Karl Collins (Louis Loveday), former Big Brother winner and DIY expert Craig Philips, and keen triathlete and BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin.

To find out more about GO TRI in your area, please visit www.gotri.org

For full results of all Tri Liverpool races, please click here.