St Ives Biathlon start times pulled forward for water safety

Anyone with the St Ives Biathlon in the diary needs to shift their evening plans by half an hour. St Ives Surf Life Saving Club has moved the start times for this year’s race forward, giving the RNLI and water safety crews extra light to work with as the event heads into the shorter evenings of September.

What’s changing

The Junior and Novice events now start at 6pm, half an hour earlier than the 6.30pm slot originally advertised. The main Open race follows at 6.30pm, also brought forward by 30 minutes from its original 7pm start.

Registration still opens at 3pm as planned.

Why the times have moved

The club says the change gives the RNLI and water safety crews more time in the water while there is still good daylight, with the shift timed to the shorter evenings that come with September’s later sunsets.

The event

📷Credit: St Ives Surf Life Saving Club

The St Ives Biathlon runs on Saturday 12 September 2026, a new date for the event, and is organised by St Ives Surf Life Saving Club with sponsorship from Cornish Riviera Holidays. Online entry is available via a QR code on the club’s promotional material, and the event carries the backing of a long list of local businesses across St Ives and the surrounding area.

Doors, or rather the water, open from 3pm. Junior and Novice swimmers are in from 6pm, with the main Open race close behind at half past.

📷Credit: St Ives Surf Life Saving Club