Cromhall Quarry was transformed into an amphitheatre of sport and celebration on Saturday morning as The Lake Triathlon Series reached its dramatic crescendo.
Departing from the series’ traditional midweek Wednesday evening schedule, the fifth and final round took advantage of a crisp September morning. The picturesque limestone quarry managed by South West Maritime Academy was a hive of activity as the starter’s horn sounded. Friends, families, training partners, and spectators lined the perimeter paths, ringing cowbells and cheering on competitors through the open-water swim, undulating bike leg, and scenic run.
The grand finale delivered scintillating individual performances on the day and triggered a monumental reshuffle of the overall championship leaderboards. Above all, the final standings proved that consistency, resilience, and attendance reign supreme in multi-sport endurance racing.
“The Lake Triathlon Series has truly found its stride,” said Carl Hewlett, Marketing Manager at The Lake and South West Maritime Academy.
“We’ve seen numbers growing every month since the debut, an influx of newcomers for each race alongside our devoted regulars, and incredible engagement across social media.
“Having so many families, friends, and spectators here at The Lake on Saturday turned the finale into a true local event. We set out to create one of the friendliest, most accessible, and competitive local series in the South West, and I believe we have achieved that.”
In the men’s contest, the pace at the sharp end was relentless from the opening stroke in the spring-fed waters of The Lake. Jamie Boxshall put on an imperious display across swim, bike, and run, pulling clear of the field to take a decisive outright win. He was hotly pursued by championship leader Matthew Peters, whose composed second-place quarry finish was more than enough to achieve his ultimate goal: banking 99 points to secure the overall series title. Will Precious produced a superb display to round out the men’s race podium in third place.
The women’s race was once again a masterclass orchestrated by the undisputed queen of Cromhall, Penny Guess. Showing the supreme form that has defined her campaign, Guess stormed home to take her fourth victory of the five-race series, placing eighth overall across the entire field. The battle behind her was fierce: Abigail Burn delivered her finest performance of the season to take second place among the female contenders (12th overall), while Zoey Starke delivered a brilliant race to secure third place on the women’s podium.
While Jamie Boxshall claimed the morning’s race honours, Matthew Peters celebrated the ultimate prize. Peters’ second-place quarry finish added 99 points to his season tally, wrapping up the 2026 Men’s Series Championship with 394 points.
Behind Peters, however, the season finale dramatically upended the championship podium. Pre-race frontrunners Harry Bunting and Edward Bamford—who had entered Round 5 sitting comfortably in second and third position—both skipped the finale. Capitalising on the open door was Ben Howe. Racing with steely determination, Howe banked 76 points in Round 5, leaping four places from 6th into the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Miguel Alvarez cemented his reputation as the championship’s ultimate ironman. As the only male competitor in the entire competition to start and complete all five rounds, Alvarez climbed onto the podium in third place overall on 302 points.
The top five witnessed further disruption: Kevin Joint rose three places to claim 4th overall, while veteran stalwart Steve Payne vaulted an astonishing six spots from 11th into 5th after finishing 7th on the day.
Further down the pack, double-digit climbers lit up the time sheets. Will Precious rocketed 26 places into 11th courtesy of his podium finish, Matt Screen jumped into 9th, and 78-year-old fan favourite David Ransom climbed 10 places into 13th overall, drawing one of the day’s biggest cheers from the assembled crowd.
In the women’s championship, Penny Guess capped an imperious, near-flawless summer campaign. With four wins and a second-place finish across the five events, Guess claimed the overall 2026 Women’s Title with 497 points out of a maximum possible 500—an extraordinary display of dominance and athletic consistency.
The battle for the runner-up spot produced the morning’s most captivating championship twist. Heading into Round 5, Ella Clark held a 12-point cushion over Hannah Asbridge. However, Asbridge dug deep over the final 5km run to finish 12th in the female category. That swing wiped out the deficit and propelled her onto the second step of the championship podium, edging Clark into third.
Demonstrating the immense power of dedication, the “All Five” quad completely locked down the championship summit. Guess, Asbridge, Clark, and Sally Yu (4th on 420 pts), the only four female athletes with 100% series attendance, monopolised the top four positions.
Abigail Burn’s blistering silver-medal performance saw her storm into the series top ten, leaping 10 places to 7th overall. She was joined by an array of massive mid-pack risers: Philippa Marley advanced 18 spots into 10th, Jenny Bond leapt 47 places to 11th, Carla Brain vaulted 59 spots to 16th, and Louise Johnson climbed an astonishing 62 places into 19th.
As the final competitors crossed the line to the sound of cheering supporters, Race Director Paul Breen reflected on a landmark season for Gloucestershire multi-sport:
“Seeing The Lake on a Saturday morning with this level of energy and community support is what a grassroots triathlon is all about.
“Having the finale at the weekend gave our athletes the grand stage they deserved. From those fighting for podium seconds to individuals trying a triathlon for the very first time, the determination on display has been extraordinary.
“A huge thanks goes out to our water safety crew, volunteer marshals, and the wider South West Maritime Academy team that have worked tirelessly all summer to make the triathlon series possible.”
The Lake Triathlon Series Standings
Final Championship Standings — All 5 Rounds Complete
M Male Championship Standings
| Pos | Athlete | Points |
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* Scroll box to view all 201 male participants.
F Female Championship Standings
| Pos | Athlete | Points |
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* Scroll box to view all 97 female participants.
