The second annual Clayton Shorthouse Memorial Triathlon, held on Sunday 31 August 2025 at the Ebbw Vale Sports Centre, has raised more than £1,950 for our Charity. The money will help support our vital work providing long-term cardiac rehab exercise classes across the region.
The event was created in memory of Clayton Shorthouse, a keen triathlete and well-known local figure who died suddenly in 2023, aged just 51, from an undiagnosed congenital heart condition. Known for his big personality and encouragement of others, Clayton, a father of two, was a familiar face at the Ebbw Vale Sports Centre and a driving force behind many people’s introduction to triathlon.
The idea for the beginner-friendly Super Sprint event came from Clayton’s wife, Linda Shorthouse, and his close friend Ian Reynolds from Abertillery’s Piranha Tri Club. Together, they wanted to honour Clayton’s legacy by inspiring others to take part in the sport he loved, and raise money for a cause close to the family’s heart.
Aneurin Leisure Trust’s Interim Director Tom Kivell and Ebbw Vale Sports Centre Manager Emma Scott stepped in to provide the venue, support and expertise needed to make the event happen.
“Clayton always believed anyone could give triathlon a go,” said Linda Shorthouse, who competed alongside her son Dylan, daughter Abbie, and Abbie’s partner Alex. “Seeing so many people take part in his name was incredibly moving. He would have loved it.
The Super Sprint Triathlon format challenges entrants with a 400m pool swim, 10km bike ride and 2.5km run. It offers a fun and manageable way for people to try triathlon for the first time. “It’s perfect for newcomers and seasoned athletes alike,” said Ian Reynolds. “And it was great to see so many first timers taking part alongside some very experienced sportsmen and women.
“Aneurin Leisure and the Ebbw Vale Sports Centre team have been amazing in their support, and we’re also very grateful to our sponsors Mon Timber, who provided the medals, Paul’s Scaffolding, who supplied the bike racks, EventEx Services for the transition area carpeting, and Time4Nutrition, who provided prizes for our winners and for the fundraising raffle.
“We also had some other great prizes donated for the raffle, including £100 worth of gift cards from Clayton’s parents, Terry and Shirley.
And we couldn’t have done it without Y Fenni Tri, Piranha Tri, Parc Bryn Bach Running Club and the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity. Their volunteer marshals and timekeepers helped ensure the race ran really smoothly.
“It’s a tribute to everyone involved that Welsh Triathlon has agreed to provide timing chips and other essential equipment next year. Their Head of Development, Amy Jenner, attended the event and was really impressed. She told me she wished she could just pick it up and take it around the country as a model of a really good grassroots community triathlon.”
Charity Chair Jacky Miles MBE said she was also inspired by the event. “The atmosphere on the day was amazing – full of energy, emotion and community spirit, with friends, family and fellow athletes coming together not just to race, but to remember Clayton.
“Many of the participants I spoke to said they were motivated by Clayton’s story and felt proud to be part of something so meaningful.
“We’re honoured to be the family’s nominated charity, and blown away by people’s generosity. The money raised this year from entry fees, raffle ticket sales and donations will help ensure we continue our work supporting people with heart conditions to regain their fitness and confidence through exercise.”
With a grand total of £1,956.05 raised this year and growing interest in the event, the Clayton Shorthouse Triathlon is quickly becoming a cherished local tradition. Organisers are already looking ahead to next year’s event, with early-bird booking for the Super Sprint set to open later this month, and plans to expand the day with a relay triathlon and a junior event for those aged under 15, to encourage even more people to take part.
Tom Kivell said: “Clayton was a larger-than-life personality: everyone who knew him knew how passionate he was about encouraging people into sport as a way to improve their health and mental wellbeing. We’re delighted this event has become such a beacon for the community and, working alongside Clayton’s family, want to extend that even further by creating more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part.”
Top male finishers on the day were:
- Tomos Jukes – 37:00 mins
- Scott Morris – 37:17 mins
- Des Devlin – 37:43 mins
Incredibly, all three smashed last year’s top time.
Top female finishers were:
- Lilwen Banning: 43:53 mins
- Harri Like: 45:33 mins
- Leyla Helvaci: 46:10 mins
- Booking for the 2026 Clayton Shorthouse Memorial Triathlon is set to open on 25 October via Aneurin Leisure’s BGLife Facebook page.
- To find out more about the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity, including their new weekly class timetable, go to cardiac-rehab.org.uk.
