I should declare up front, this is my club tri, but it is brilliant!

It's an early season race that always attract a really strong field, 400m pool swim at the leisure centre, run out to the car park for T1, then the bike ride takes you through the centre of Sevenoaks and into the beautiful Kent countryside. Early on there is a very rapid descent on the A225 (Tonbridge Road) - but as always with the bike leg what goes down has to come back up and as the ride take you on through Shipbourne then Stumble Hill will test your winter training. The rest of the bike course undulates and just before you finish you have one final sharp climb up Seal Hollow Road. Once you are through T2 the run takes you out into the beautiful surroundings of Knole Park - originally a medieval deer park. The first 4k of the run is pretty much uphill until you reach an aid station where you turn and get to torture your quads for a while instead of your calves.

The final sting in the tail involves getting out of the park and back to the leisure centre which you do via a very steep quite long set of steps - I didn't see anybody manage to run the whole way up when I did the race. Once at the top it's just a hundred metres across the car park and you're done.

Why I like this race. Great early season test, real chance to see how you have gone over the winter, the course is a good challenge, it's not The Norseman but you do have to work your way round it. Lovely scenery for bike and run. Well organised and well marshaled by friendly fellow triathletes. You get a proper medal (not one from the shoe repair shop) and your pictures from the day are free to download, personally I would much rather have that than a "goody bag" full of stuff that I don't want.

Top tip - this race always sells out - last year in under 90 minutes! You can pre-register for info here http://www.7oakstriclub.co.uk/our-events/triathlon I have got to marshal next year so there's at least one spare place up for grabs.

Great race - recommended.