a group of people are at the swim start facing the water all with green swim caps on.

Zone3's Blenheim Palace Triathlon 2025 recap

This June, Blenheim Palace once again played host to one of the UK’s most loved triathlons.


Across the weekend, thousands of athletes took on the scenic course, surrounded by cheering crowds, historic grounds, and the energy that only race day can bring.


Whether it was someone tackling their first triathlon or a returning regular, Blenheim delivered.

And ZONE3, the official swim partner, was right there in the thick of it.

A photo of Blenheim Palace with spectators of the triathlon around the edge of barriers that mark out the course
a man in in the transition area wearing his Zone3 wetsuit
the waters edge and the start of the race has a Zone3 starting line - an inflated archaway. Swimmers and spectators are gathering around
swimmers are in the water swimming with a Zone3 buoy in the water and a kayaker for safety
swimmers are waiting to start, wearing their Zone3 wetsuits
a woman is running wearing a Zone3 Activate+ trisuit

Supporting Every Stroke: Our Role at Blenheim Palace Triathlon

As the official swim partner of the Blenheim Palace Triathlon 2025, we were honoured to support athletes from their first steps into the lake all the way through to the finish line. Our goal? To make the swim leg feel just that bit more approachable, enjoyable, and successful for everyone involved.


All weekend long, our team was on-site with wetsuit day rentals for athletes who didn’t have their own kit. We offered access to the Glide wetsuit, designed for comfort, buoyancy, and confidence in open water. It was brilliant to see so many triathletes feel that little bit more prepared the moment they zipped up.


But our support didn’t stop there. From hole-punching race numbers to helping attach them to belts, to giving last-minute kit tips and calming nerves, we were proud to be a source of help and reassurance across the entire event village.

Racing with Our Community

We were especially proud to see several ZONE3 ambassadors (and our own staff!) on the start line for the sprint triathlon. Watching them take on the course, while wearing the kit they train and race in year-round, was a proud moment for us as a brand.


Even better was seeing them take the time to chat with fellow athletes, share advice, and bring some brilliant energy to the expo and around the course.

"Blenheim Palace is a beautiful venue but the rolling hills thoughout the ground add a challenge those competing.


The lake is serene and is an enjoyable swim. Beware of the steep hill from the swim to the bike transistion! The bike route depending on your distance is a multi loop. The first half is predominantly up hill but then your rewarded with some semi steep accelerations and a few tight turns before dropping your bike and looping the pond to run through to the finish line and be cheered down the home stretch.


Despite the rain, the energy from the crowd and the great support of the event organisers made this a wonderful race to compete in!


Newbie top tip - walk though the transitions before the race starts to get comfortable with the exit and entrances for each discipline to remember where you've racked your kit, and have your kit laid out ready to go."

"The Blenheim Palace Triathlon 2025 weekend marked the 42nd anniversary of the first UK triathlon ever held in the UK. I finished 8th overall back then at Kirton Farm and now 15,344 days later I competed for my 43rd consecutive tri season at Blenheim.


There have been many changes to triathlon over the years. In 1983, no wetsuits were allowed. Wetsuits kept you buoyant and were considered cheating especially by swimmers. I have been using Zone3 wetsuits and accessories since they were first launched. I was one of James Lock's (founder of Zone3) first customers.


On Sunday at Blenheim, I competed at the Blenheim Triathlon British National age group champs and world qualification race. I have competed in more than 40 national triathlon duathlon and aquathlon (swim/run) national championships races during the last 40 years.


I came out of the swim with eventual winner in my age group Swim 14:15 (1:54 per 100m) and was only 1 minute slower than him in the 5.4km run. I am pleased with 11th overall in my age group."


"In my first race of the tri season, I headed up to Blenheim for the rearranged London Duathlon and the SS Triathlon.


It’s always a special place to race, not only for the scenery and grandeur of transition, but due to the number of supporters there to cheer you on.


First up was the duathlon, which was a 5km run followed by a 20km ride and 5km run.

Off the start, I settled into 2nd keeping a nice distance from the chasing pack. The bike is where I’m most comfortable and with the fastest split of the day, I headed into the final run still in 2nd (closing the gap) but I couldn’t quite chase down the leader. A podium finish to kickstart the season.


Post massage, rice bowl and sheltering from the growing thunderstorms, the SS Tri was a blur due to the short but fast legs and nasty weather. The duathlon had left my legs slightly fatigued, but I still managed a respectable 2nd.


My Kit List – Vanquish X Wetsuit, Aeroforce X Tri Suit, Venator X Goggles, and a Zone3 ‘Prototype’ mystery item."

Martin McKinlay - Zone3 Director Supply Chain and Operations

A Weekend That Reminds Us Why We Do This

For us at ZONE3, Blenheim isn’t just another race on the calendar. It’s a chance to show up for our community, whether you’re racing in our kit or stepping into open water for the first time. It’s about more than performance. It’s about progress, connection, and being part of something bigger.

Race Day Essentials

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