TEME Leisure general manager Lee Hassan has teamed up with organisers of the first ever ‘Storm the Castle’ Ludlow-based Duathlon to launch a competition to his members.

Any current Teme Leisure member who ‘beats the boss’ in the event on Sunday, April 19 will be entered into a draw to win a year’s free membership.

“I wanted to get behind this event as I saw it as a fantastic opportunity for myself as a multi-sports enthusiast to take on a new challenge, but also to engage with my members,” said Mr Hassan, who added that he is doing a lot of training indoors on gym equipment.

“Thanks to Storm the Castle organisers and our equipment suppliers, competitors can recreate the race route while the treadmill moves and adapts to change in elevation of the course.”

The event is the brainchild of three former Ludlow CE School pupils - Dermott Hayes, Matthew Green and Matthew Morris - who are equally passionate about their sport and the area they grew up.

Having raced for the past 15 years at events all over the globe, including Triathlon World Championships, the trio decided they wanted to put their home town firmly on the multi-sport map to attract local and national interest.

The run-cycle-run event covers a distance of 48k in total, consisting of a 10k hilly run, followed by a gruelling 33k cycle, then a further 5k run.

Starting from Ludlow Rugby Club at 9am the race route takes in some of Ludlow’s spectacular scenery and finishes in the grounds of Ludlow Castle itself, following a tough climb around the castle walls.

The bike route runs through the beautiful but notoriously hilly countryside of south Shropshire, before heading back to the town via the spectacular descent of High Vinnals and Whitcliffe.

A blog about Lee’s training journey with tips and advice from experts will be launched in February and updated until the event at www.teme-leisure.co.uk.