BIG time triathlon racing comes to Ashford on Sunday when Team Outrageous hosts a round of the national age group championships based at the Julie Rose Stadium.

It is the first time more than 800 of the world’s best and toughest triathlon men and women will be in action in the town.

It will also be unusual in that they are also holding a novice event in conjunction with the main event so that Kent men and women can take part alongside the top competitors.

It will be an early start in the swimming competition, which is being held at the lake behind the stadium, with the novices hitting the water from 6.15am.

The lake is owned by Brett but it hopes to eventually make it part of a watersports scheme as part of the leisure development in the town.

The very best of the men should be in the 1,500m swimming phase by 7.30am and the bike phase should be under way from 8am.

The cycle race will be over 40km with the course taking the riders up the A251 through Challock, back along the A252 to Chilham, and then along the A28 to finish at the stadium.

The final phase of the Olympic course is a 19km run through the country lanes around the back of the Julie Rose to Hinxhill, up to Blackwall Farm and back through Willesborough Lees and to the stadium.

It is expected the event will be finished by 11.30am with the presentations scheduled for noon.

Team Outrageous are a Kent club based at Leybourne Lakes near Maidstone and two of their women, both from Ashford, will be hoping to be among the challengers.

They are Nicki Barron, who has been racing for four years, and Irish Elite champion Christine Johnson.

In the men’s section, TO’s top Estonian Ain-Alar Junhanson will be aiming for another title success after his recent Ironman win in Lanzarote.

The event is a round of the British Triathlon Association’s national ranking age group series, which doubles as a qualifying race for the world championships in Honolulu this year.

In addition there will be a Race Expo in the centre of the stadium with exhibitors and stalls. A children’s triathlon will be held between 9.30-12.30 at the stadium.

Timing of the competitors in the main event will be by a sophisticated electronic chip system, which is attached to each competitor around the ankle and will ensure a quick turnaround of results.

The overall winners will also win Orca Wetsuits and there will be prizes for British Triathlon members, the top three novice race winners and Brett have donated prizes for the fastest swimmer on the day and fastest novice swimmer. There will also be a number of spot prizes on the day.

The novices will not do the full Olympic distance, with a 500m swim, 20km bike race and 5km run and competitors can take part in all three disciplines or as part of a relay squad.