Unmissable 2024 Sporting Events in Pembrokeshire with Activity Wales Events

Unmissable 2024 Sporting Events in Pembrokeshire with Activity Wales Events

Activity Wales Events are experts on sporting events. With their races being held worldwide in some seven countries including Spain, Belgium and New Zealand; their events are a must for athletes across the globe. Whether you’re a pro athlete or a newbie to swimming, cycling and running; here is a run-down of all their unmissable 2024 sporting events in Pembrokeshire.

Challenge Wales | Fishguard | Sunday 9th June 2024

Part of the Challenge Family Championships, this middle-distance triathlon kicked off a summer season of exciting multi-sports brought to the West Wales landscape by the Pembrokeshire-based team.

Up to 500 athletes donned their wetsuits and dived into the blue seas of Fishguard Harbour, protected by the long breakwater, for a 1.2-mile swim before swapping their swim hats for helmets to take on a 56-mile cycle on closed roads. The cycle route was a scenic one, following a course from Fishguard to the attractive holiday destination of St Davids, best known for being the smallest city in the UK.

Challenge Wales culminated in a 13.1-mile run consisting of 4 laps along the seafront and up the adjoining hillside, requiring plenty of stamina! But it was all worth it, for the atmosphere at the finish line was electric as the coastline buzzed with encouraging supporters, a DJ spinning tunes on stage, and a red carpet finish that was truly unforgettable. Picture glorious sunshine and a party atmosphere complete with eateries, stallholders, and massage at the finish line. What an end to a race!

Fishguard Sprint Triathlon | Fishguard | Sunday 9th June 2024

njoyed that same epic finish as those who took on Challenge Wales, but with less work! The Fishguard Sprint Triathlon was ideal for first-timers and those fairly new to the idea of triathlon, so there was no need to fret if you were a little nervous or a regular triathlete who had been out of the game for a while; the Activity Wales Events team had your back with their slick operation.

This event was known for being a fast and fun course, featuring a 750-metre swim, a 13-mile cycle, and a 3-mile run. That meant only one lap for the swim, compared to two for Challenge Wales, and the cycle took participants just past Mathry rather than all the way to St Davids. The hill in the run leg still had to be tackled, but only for one lap. Sounded doable, right? It was all worthwhile, knowing you were in for an epic welcome as you crossed the finish line.

Long Course Weekend | Tenby | Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd June 2024

If you thought Challenge Wales brought the party, Long Course Wales took it supersonic. This three-day multi-sport event elevated sporting events to a whole new level with an out-of-this-world festival atmosphere that took over Tenby for an entire weekend.

Long Course Weekend (aka LCW) reimagined the separate disciplines of triathlon, making it accessible for those who loved triathlon as well as those who didn’t. Each discipline – the swim, bike, and run elements – took place on different days, and there was no pressure to sign up for all three unless that was your thing. Each day featured a different course with several distances to choose from: Friday was Swim Day, Saturday was Bike Day, and Sunday was Run Day. The best part? No awkward transitions between disciplines – participants got to go home for a shower and a kip in between!

Athletes could enter each sport individually with varying distances available or take on the challenge of all three full distances by signing up for Full LCW. Completing all three earned them an additional fourth medal – perfect motivation to cross the finish line on three consecutive days. Those aged between 14 and 17 could participate in the Junior LCW and also earn that coveted fourth medal. Full and Junior LCW athletes then participated in the closing ceremony of this televised sporting event in Pembrokeshire, parading down the red carpet to receive their medals as swathes of adoring supporters cheered from the sidelines.

In 2024, Long Course Weekend Wales celebrated its thirteenth year, having come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2010. A pop-up athlete village was in place from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd June, offering a wealth of exciting activities. Attendees could browse a range of stalls, sample delicious snacks and meals from fantastic street food vendors, enjoy live music, and, of course, clap and cheer for the athletes at the start and finish lines. The atmosphere was electric the whole weekend, making it an event not to be missed!

LCKinder | Tenby | Friday 21st June 2024

Heralded as one of the best children’s sporting events in Pembrokeshire and even the UK, LCKinder cemented an unforgettable moment in the minds of every child who participated. Suitable for all children aged 4 to 11, it was a popular splash-and-dash race along the waterfront of Tenby North Beach.

The kids were set off in waves determined by their age; those aged 4 and 5 took on a 200-metre race, while 6 to 11-year-olds participated in a 400-metre race. Every child received a t-shirt to wear during the event and was awarded a medal upon reaching the finish line.

The Wales Swim | Tenby | Friday 21st June 2024

Long Course Weekend for adults kicked off with a bang courtesy of The Wales Swim, and participants had to act fast to enter as it was known to sell out quickly. 2,500 athletes took part in this mass-start open-water swim, with some tackling the 1.2-mile distance and others braving the 2.4-mile route.

Throngs of spectators filled every viewpoint along the famous zig-zags and promenades behind the beach, soaking up the scenes as Long Course Weekend began each year. This annual Pembrokeshire event was a favourite for everyone, with music blasting and fireworks lighting up the skies as the start countdown hit zero.

The Wales Sportive | Tenby | Saturday 22nd June 2024

Cyclists set their alarms bright and early for The Wales Sportive, with the first of the 3,000 riders hitting the roads as early as 7 am. For passionate cyclists of any level, this was one for the bucket list, offering three distances to choose from, all taking place on closed roads in one of the most picturesque parts of Wales.

The staggered start times saw those tackling the 112-mile route head off first, venturing onto a course that flowed to Pembroke, along the coast at Freshwater West, past Carew Castle, and on to Templeton, where the feed station was practically a party in itself. After speeding through Tavernspite, these two-wheeled competitors faced the challenge of the undulating Welsh landscape, with the hills at Wisemans Bridge and Saundersfoot, before reaching the finish line back at the heart of the athlete village in Tenby.

The Wales Sportive also offered shorter distances: the 70-miler and the 40-miler, with plenty of spectator spots along the way to cheer on loved ones taking part, for those not riding themselves.

In true Activity Wales Events style, the day featured pyrotechnics at the start line to get participants pumped and their iconic red carpet finish, where the crowds went wild in celebration.

The Wales Marathon | Tenby | Sunday 23rd June 2024

Sunday was run day, and it was always a fun day! The Wales Marathon was renowned for its challenging route, but that only made the beautiful shiny medal at the end even more rewarding. Thousands of participants took on the 26.2-mile run on fully closed roads, pounding the pavements through the coastal villages of Freshwater East and Manorbier, and passing by one of Wales’s best castles at Pembroke.

For those who took part, the finish line was where emotions ran high. Not only did participants feel the overwhelming relief of completing the course, but they also had the opportunity to have their loved ones join them at the start of the red carpet, running down that finish chute together. Whether bringing kids, dogs, or babes in arms, this finish line moment was one to cherish for a lifetime. Known as the “Run with Loved Ones” channel, this unique experience, offered by Activity Wales Events at many of their events, had grown to become one of their most beloved moments.

The Wales Half Marathon | Pembroke | Sunday 23rd June 2024

Taking place on the same day as The Wales Marathon, half-marathon runners joined those tackling the full distance, starting from a line in Pembroke and following the same course along closed roads to the epic finish line in Tenby. Those who participated in previous years agreed that the start line in Pembroke was just as energetic as the one in Tenby, with a Samba Band parade providing lively beats to get everyone motivated for the 13.1 miles ahead.

The start line parade led by the Samba Band

The Wales 10k | Manorbier | Sunday 23rd June 2024

As with The Wales Half Marathon, participants in The Wales 10k joined the full marathon runners on their journey back to Tenby, but for this event, the starting point was the beachside location of Manorbier.

Bouncing melodies from music speakers and pulsing rhythms from a Samba Band performance provided entertainment as participants counted down to the moment they crossed under the archway to begin their 10k route. From there, it was up to them to set the pace that would take them back to Tenby for an unforgettable finish down the red carpet, their names being read out over the tannoy with a word of congratulations!

The Wales 5k | Tenby | Sunday 23rd June 2024

If you fancied joining in the fun for a medal and bragging rights but weren’t able to or didn’t want to tackle the longer distances during the Long Course Weekend, The Wales 5k was the perfect option. Participants could still proudly say they completed one of the best sporting events in Pembrokeshire and earned their very own piece of bling to hang around their necks.

The Wales SwimRun | Amroth | Saturday 13th July 2024

Forget the bike; you didn’t need it for The Wales SwimRun. This sporting event offered something a little different, which is exactly what made it so popular. As one of Wales’ newest sporting events, participant numbers were smaller, but it was designed to stay that way.

The Wales SwimRun was a team sport, so participants picked their best buddy, with 100 team places available each year. For those whose mates weren’t quite on the same wavelength, they could sign up as individuals and let the Activity Wales Events team pair them with another like-minded soul.

Two distances were available: a full distance featuring a 7k swim combined with a 26k run, and a sprint distance made up of a 4.7k swim and a 14k run. Whichever distance was chosen, teams of two made their way along the breathtaking but rugged Pembrokeshire coastline from Freshwater East to Amroth. They ran across the scenic Coast Path and dived into the sea to swim around the headlands, eventually reaching the endpoint on the Amroth seafront. Many celebrated with a much-deserved pint at The New Inn!

Saundersfoot Triathlon | Saundersfoot | Friday 20th September 2024

Bringing the entire Activity Wales Events summer season to a close, Saundersfoot Triathlon was the perfect way to wrap up the calendar of sports events in Pembrokeshire.

Open to all aged 14 and above, Saundersfoot Triathlon was a sprint-distance race featuring a 750-metre swim, a 20k cycle, and a short 5k run. Participants crossed the golden sands to swim in the wonderful waves of Saundersfoot Beach, cheered on by a mass of spectators gathered along the harbourside. They then embarked on a picturesque ride through the wooded valleys of South Pembrokeshire, followed by a run through the historic old railway tunnels, a relic of the region’s coal mining past, before reaching the famous red-carpet finish at the harbour.

Taking place on the same weekend as Ironman Wales, the event guaranteed hordes of onlookers offering much-needed support to spur athletes on. Around 1,000 participants took part, a brilliant mix of newcomers, budding triathletes, and seasoned pros looking to enjoy one last race before the season ended. The pubs and restaurants along Saundersfoot seafront provided plenty of options for celebrating victories, medals in hand, after crossing the finish line.

The team at Activity Wales Events run sporting events across Wales and the wider world, check out their full itinerary of events via their website: http://www.activitywalesevents.com/