A POPULAR Dorset club is urging people to take on a triathlon, in the build up to Challenge Weymouth.

Organisers at BustinSkin have tailored their jam-packed series of events for 2014 around one the country’s top triathlon events.

And BustinSkin events manager Mark Steen said it will be a great year for Dorset, providing a huge economic boost to the resort.

The Challenge Weymouth triathlon is coming to Dorset for the first time on September 14.

Mr Steen told the Echo: “We are thrilled that Challenge Weymouth is taking place in the borough and we have planned all our events around it this year.

This year promises to be bigger and better than ever for BustinSkin, with nine triathlons, three open water swims and a series of Aquathlons on the calendar.

Club members will be on hand during the Challenge Weymouth event and Mr Steen hopes it will boost the number of people taking on triathlons in the borough for years to come.

BustinSkin membership numbers have doubled at the club since the borough hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events.

With just 26 members when the club began in 2006, it now boasts 4,000.

Mr Steen said: “We are here 365 days of the year and we want people to make the most of such an incredible sporting year in Dorset.”

Their first event, the Osprey Sprint Triathlon, is on April 27 involving a 300m swim at Osprey Leisure Centre, a 5k run and a 10-and-a-half mile cycle ride around Portland.

Their events also include options for charity giving.

Mr Steen added: “The GU Energy, Weymouth Bay Triathlon Project is returning this year in July.

“The GU project is the ideal pre-Challenge Weymouth event and we are urging people to book early to avoid missing out.

“We have mapped our new season of events purposely to fit in with ‘the Big One’ and we hope people can join us in as many as possible.”

For more visit bustinskin.com or call Mark Steen on 07752902080.

BustinSkin Race Calendar

  • Osprey Sprint Triathlon – April 27
  • The Race to the Bill – June 15
  • GU Energy Project – July 13
  • Weymouth Classic Triathlon and Weymouth Sprint Triathlon – both August 17