“Castle Hill has always been a spectacular setting for our race spectators, and I am very pleased to see them come aboard and partner with the race in 2022,” said Somers Kempe, chairman of the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee.Ĭastle Hill Inn’s nautical heritage is built into its very grounds. With its sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay, combined with its nautical history and world-class service, Castle Hill Inn offers luxury accommodations, fine and casual dining, an on-site spa, and the perfect vantage point to watch the start the 52 nd running of the Newport Bermuda Race. 11, 2022)-The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (BROC) has named Castle Hill Inn-the iconic Relais & Châteaux property on Newport’s Ocean Drive-as the newest Official Sponsor of the 2022 Race.

No PB's here, but I feel satisfied I've achieved a lot and I've given it my all.Castle Hill Inn sits astride the entrance to the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, close by the starting line for the biennial Newport Bermuda Race. With the finish line in site, I gave a final push to finally complete the course. This is where the hard work really began, there was no let up with tough terrain underfoot the whole way round. Out of transition we went straight off onto a nice steep muddy hill. With the bike successfully completed there was just the small matter of a 10K run. Despite the hills, the miles ticked by quickly and I was able to enjoy the setting and the fantastic scenery. Not a course for the faint hearted, one hill is neatly followed by the next. The course notes described the route as 'challenging' translated in layman's terms as hard work. Out onto the bike course and within the first two miles we hit the first (of many) hills. Not pushing too hard I had plenty left in the tank as a finished the swim to head back onto dry land. A very physical start as everyone fought for position and I wondered if I would make it to the first buoy, but once the early jostling was out of the way, I settled into a rhythm and really started to enjoy the swim. The horn sounded and around 400 triathletes thrashed to the first buoy.

The water temperature was reported to be 14 degrees – it felt absolutely freezing to me. After a quick race briefing, we took a deep breath and plunged into the cold lake. I was in the first wave along with around 400 others including the elite French and British team. The swim start has a dramatic backdrop it's definitely worth entering just to swim in a lake dug out by hand for Henry VIII, with the castle behind you. As I arrived the Gautlet competitors were heading off down to the race start with a small matter of a ½ Iron Man to complete – my event feels tame in comparison (RW Deputy Editor Joe Mackie was amongst the Gautlet competitors, look out for his in-mag race report in an upcoming issue). Hever Castle is set in beautiful scenery deep in the Kent countryside. Following the 'train to your weakest discipline' strategy I totally neglected swim training (my strongest), and in the end was most nervous about the swim on race day. I built up the rides and even did the odd run off the bike. I headed out on the bike in early August and I was pleased for the change from running after marathon training and my fitness improved. So, with sponsorship well underway and pledges ranging from lagging the loft to running to work, it was down to me to get some training done. It's simple stuff we should all be doing anyway like turning the lights off or switching off your computer, but the Hever Tri challenge helped to give our efforts some focus and friend and colleagues were quick to get on board. So the concept behind Do Nation really appealed - taking on a challenge and asking others to make a lifestyle change to reduce their carbon footprint. I'm not a regular fundraiser I find the task of persuading friends and colleagues to part with cash more daunting than the event itself. I was offered the opportunity to compete in Hever Castle Tri so I snapped it up (it was for a good cause after all).

Castle race gear