Staffordshire to benefit from £7million through sporting events

Ironman Staffordshire is taking place on June 14 at Chasewater Country Park near Burntwood and the Shugborough Estate, Stafford.

Thousands of competitors and spectators will descend on the area for the triathlon. Among them will be celebrity Jonathan Ross.

Meanwhile, the UK Corporate Games are also taking place in the county on June 25-28, bringing in further funds.

Bosses at Staffordshire County Council say the two events will bring in investment of £7.2m, including spending on food and accommodation.

Jude Taylor, sportshire co-ordinator at the county council, said: "We successfully tendered for two major sporting events - Ironman Staffordshire 70.3 and the 2015 UK Corporate Games.

"These events will attract an estimated 14,000 visitors into the area, creating a projected impact of 7.2m.

"Furthermore these events will provide a global platform to promote Staffordshire both as a destination for sport but also as a great place to do business."

The UK Corporate Games are taking place at Keele University in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Trentham Gardens just north of Stone.

Thousands of amateur athletes from top UK companies have signed up for the event.

Competitors will play a range of sports, including hockey, cricket, rugby sevens, netball, volleyball, and dragon boat racing.

Other venues include Fenton Manor Sports Complex and Newcastle College, in the north of Staffordshire.

It was announced last year that Staffordshire had landed a three-year contract to hold Ironman.

Around 8,000 people pre-registered to take part with just 2,600 spaces available.

Tickets sold out within 14 minutes - faster than any other contest of its type in the rest of Europe.

Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire will include a 13.1 mile run from Shugborough Hall in Stafford, 56 mile bike ride and a 1.2 mile swim at Chasewater Country Park near Burntwood.

The 56-mile single-circuit bike course along main roads and smaller country lanes, which will be one of the fastest, flattest courses on the Ironman European Tour with an elevation of 2,058ft, will link the swim with the run.

Riders will start at Chasewater Country Park before travelling through Longdon Green and up to Kings Bromley.

They will then head up to Yoxall, through Needwood and Hanbury before riders head across to Marchington, near Uttoxeter, down past Bagots Wood, towards Rugeley, through part of Cannock Chase before the finish line at Shugbrough Hall near Stafford.