Rhyl’s duathlon takeover shows how place-based investment and partnership can unlock community potential
On 5 and 6 May, more than 400 young people will take part in two major community duathlon events at Marsh Tracks in Rhyl. But this is about more than two days of cycling and running.
It is a clear example of how the Triathlon Trust’s place-based model works: investing in communities where strong facilities exist but opportunity has not always flowed freely, building local leadership and creating participation that lasts.
It is also a reminder that lasting impact does not happen alone. In Rhyl, the progress being made is built on collaboration, with the Trust working alongside a growing network of local and national partners to create opportunities for more young people to take part.
Invest. Activate. Sustain.
The Triathlon Trust exists to widen access to Swim Bike Run, reduce inequality and create meaningful pathways for young people through sport.
Its approach is simple but deliberate: invest in a place, activate local partnerships and build capability so activity continues long after initial funding.
In Rhyl, that has meant:
- Training 15 local young leaders to deliver activity
- Removing financial barriers for schools and colleges
- Reconnecting the community with Marsh Tracks
- Bringing adapted bikes back into use
- Unlocking wider partnership support and momentum
The result is not a one-off event, but growing momentum built through shared effort.
5 May: North Wales Colleges Inclusive Duathlon
On 5 May, Marsh Tracks will host the North Wales Colleges Inclusive Duathlon, welcoming an estimated 150 young people.
Participants will include students with additional learning needs alongside apprentices and mainstream learners, taking part in cycling and running in a safe, closed-circuit environment.
The event is being delivered in partnership with Colegau Cymru, Marsh Tracks, Disability Sport Wales, Wheels for All, Denbighshire Leisure and Beicio Cymru. It is a direct example of how Trust funding can act as a catalyst, helping bring organisations together around a shared goal.
6 May: Rhyl Primary Schools Duathlon
On 6 May, around 250 primary school children from across Rhyl will take part in a dedicated schools duathlon, fully supported by the Triathlon Trust.
Schools that previously faced barriers around cost and logistics are now bringing entire groups, demonstrating how quickly access can improve when support is aligned.
The schools event is being supported by Disability Sport Wales, Marsh Tracks, Wheels for All, Denbighshire Leisure and Beicio Cymru.
Leadership, inclusion and collaboration in action
Both events will be delivered by the 15 young leaders trained through the Trust-supported programme. Welsh Triathlon staff will oversee the days, but it is these local students who will guide activities and gain real experience.
Inclusion sits at the centre. Adapted bikes have been brought back into use, allowing children with additional physical and learning needs to participate fully, supported by partners who share the ambition of making sport more accessible.
Last year, a visually impaired young person rode a bike for the first time using a side-by-side cycle and refused to get off.
That is what unlocking opportunity looks like.
A model that lasts
As Catherine Roberts, Trustee of the Triathlon Trust and CEO of Welsh Triathlon, explains:
“This was never about going into Rhyl, spending the money and walking away. It was about creating something in partnership with local groups so it has continuity and a long life.”
That collaborative approach is what gives the work in Rhyl the potential to last. By working with a strong local and national network of partners across both events, the Trust is helping to build a stronger foundation for long-term impact.
Rhyl is not a one-off project.
It is a blueprint for how targeted, place-based investment, combined with strong local partnership, can turn underused facilities into thriving, inclusive community hubs, and how Swim Bike Run can build confidence, connection and long-term opportunity.
