THE final entries in the 11th edition of the annual Montgomery Canal Triathlon have been received ahead of this year's event which takes place on Saturday (May 20).

After a slight delay due to King Charles’ coronation, the fundraiser in aid of restoring the canal will witness nearly 200 individuals embarking on a 12-mile bike ride from Newtown to Belan Locks, south of Welshpool.

They will then canoe five-and-a-half miles through Welshpool, before finishing on foot for the final 11 miles across the border between Llanymynech to Morton, south of Oswestry.

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Christine Palin, chairman of the Friends of the Montgomery Canal said: “The triathlon is popular with families and the more seriously competitive, many coming from far and wide to take part and often bringing friends to join the event for the first time.

“With more restoration works underway this year’s route will be slightly longer than last year – and longer than the London Marathon.

“The new bridge and channel restoration are funded by volunteer donations, and we are pleased that through the triathlon, the Friends of the Montgomery Canal have been able to give over £30,000 to the ‘Restore the Montgomery Canal!’ appeal.

“We are delighted by the generous support from so many entrants and supporters over the years and hope this year’s event will help us to add to that.

The event will start at Hafan yr Afon, the recently inaugurated community and visitor centre by the banks of the River Severn.

Montgomery town crier Sue Blower, who famously featured alongside local MP Craig Williams and rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards on BBC TV's Great Welsh Adventure, will announce the start of the event by introducing the Mayor of Newtown.

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The route for this year's triathlon is slightly longer than previous years, showcasing various restoration efforts along the way.

Participants will encounter restored locks, reopened stretches of the canal, and sections awaiting restoration after years of neglect.

They will also witness canalside nature reserves created to protect the canal's unique flora and fauna, as well as bridges that have been reopened or are yet to be restored.

Notably, they will observe the section dredged earlier this year as part of major works funded by the UK Levelling-Up Fund, aimed at removing invasive water plants and improving water flow.