Blenheim Triathlon 2026: A Weekend of Wins, Weather, and a World Record on My Doorstep

I don’t often get to work on my own doorstep, but this year I had the opportunity to be the official photographer for Supertri Blenheim Palace on the 6th and 7th of June — shooting the mass-participation age-group races across both days and the professional race on Sunday. Blenheim Palace sits practically on my patch here in Oxfordshire, so getting the call for the UK’s biggest triathlon, at one of the most photogenic venues in the country, was as good as a local booking gets.

Adding to the occasion, this was also the weekend Jonny Brownlee set out to break the record for the most sprint-distance triathlons completed in a single weekend — ten of them, back to back, over two days. A proper weekend warrior.

Saturday: Four Seasons in One Day

Saturday was defined by the weather. It started with some of the most torrential rain I’ve shot in — genuinely miserable conditions, to the point that I dug out my ski gear and wore it in June. By the afternoon the sun had broken through completely, and I was peeling off layers I never expected to need at a British summer event.

Saturday’s races also doubled as the British and English Sprint Distance National Championships, with thousands of age-group athletes racing the Great Lake swim, the parkland bike course, and the run through the estate — all while Brownlee quietly ground out the opening legs of his ten-triathlon challenge in the background.

Sunday: The Pro Race, and a Statement Win on Home Soil

Sunday was incredible. It opened with the Supertri Pro Series race, and the athleticism on show was something else entirely.

In the men’s race, Oliver Conway delivered the story of the weekend. Twenty years old, reigning World Triathlon U23 Champion, and racing a course he grew up minutes from, Conway broke clear on the run and crossed the line in 55:51 — a home win in front of a home crowd. Canada’s Charles Paquet chased him all the way to the line, finishing just four seconds back, with Australia’s Luke Willian completing the podium.

The women’s race was every bit as compelling. Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen — fresh off winning the Supertri Toronto opener and a sweep of the European sprint and Olympic-distance titles in 2025 — sat patiently in the lead bike pack before pulling away on the run to win by a commanding 30 seconds, crossing the line in 1:02:18. France’s Léonie Périault, the highest-ranked athlete on the start line, ran her way through to second in 1:02:48, while home favourite Jessica Fullagar and Olivia Mathias had set the early pace off the bike before being reeled in. Watching Vermeylen put that gap into a world-class field on the run was one of the highlights of the whole weekend from behind the lens.

The day ended with Jonny Brownlee securing his record — ten sprint-distance triathlons completed across the weekend, the first athlete ever to finish all ten Weekend Warrior races at Blenheim. Watching him cross that final finish line, visibly running on fumes after two days of racing, was a genuinely emotional moment to capture.

The Numbers Behind the Lens

Covering an event like this isn’t just about being in the right place for the pro race — it’s two full days on your feet chasing the light, the action, and the story across an entire estate.

• Saturday: 24,954 steps

• Sunday: 19,267 steps

Two days, one of the most beautiful venues in the country, three brilliant storylines, and one very unexpected outing for my ski jacket. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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