The Triathlonguard Long Course Weekend is here, with thousands set to descend on Tenby for the unique three-day event.

Year on year the event grows, with bigger crowds, more supporters and athletes attending, and 2016 will continue that trend as more than 7,500 athletes will be involved with the weekend’s activities, and more than 25,000 spectators expected.

Televised to over 560 million homes worldwide, the hour-long show highlights the county to people all over the world, and its impact is clear with competitors travelling from 46 countries worldwide make the journey.

New options have been added for this year’s event, with the Junior Long Course Weekend open to those age 14-17, and a new 5k event open to anyone age 11 years old and over. The two options now give children a pathway into long distance triathlon, and means that there is something available from ages four and up.

A number of ex-pro rugby players will be taking part in various activities over the three days, including Shane Williams, Ian Gough and Ryan Jones, while professional triathletes Lucy Gossage, local Ironman Oliver Simon, Dominic Rohan-Gates and Parys Edwards will be at the forefront of the field over the three days.

Registration opened yesterday (Thursday). It is open today (Friday), 10 am - 8 pm (from 4-6 pm only full Long Course Weekend and swim athletes can register), tomorrow (Saturday), 5.30 am - 8 am (priority will be giving to cyclists as per start times), Sunday, 7-9 am (marathon and 5k), 9-10.30 am (10k), 9-11 am (half marathon in Pembroke Castle only).

For more information about the event, or took for live timings and results on the day, visit longcourseweekend.com or see our special supplement inside tomorrow’s issue.