Budding athletes are gearing up for one of the county town’s popular sporting events. 

The Dorchester Dash returns for its fifth year on Sunday, July 16, and Dorset’s best triathletes will be lining up to take on the challenge. 

Competitors face an early start when the event begins at Dorchester Sports Centre at 8am. They will then tackle a 400m swim at the centre’s indoor pool followed by a 24km cycling course which exits Dorchester via Poundbury, taking them to the summit of Hardy’s monument. 

The cycle will take participants back to the centre where a five-kilometre run will then guide them to Maiden Castle, an iron age fort dating back to 4000BC. 

England’s Jonny Brownlee is set to take on the world’s biggest triathlon in Hamburg on the same weekend. 

A spokesperson for Dorchester Sports Centre said: “The race is such an inspiring event as it takes competitors through some stunning scenery and magnificent historic landscapes.”

Finishers will receive a medal and goodie bags, with separate prizes available for different age groups. 

Minimum entry age for the competition is 16, and varying fees apply per group size. The event is sponsored by Um Bongo and Blue Sky Running.

For more information about the Dorchester Dash triathlon contact Dorchester Sports Centre at 01305 858400.