Better Care staff praise Weymouth Ironman stewards

Arrangements to allow essential workers get past road closures during this year's triathlon appear to have worked well this year.

As previously reported Rowan Jackson, who runs the Better Care at Home care agency, had sought reassurances from the organisers of the Ironman race before the weekend after his staff were not able to access patients needing domiciliary care during the 2023 event.

The 56-mile cycle race means that many roads have to close to allow competitors to pass safely, including parts of Preston in Weymouth, Dorchester and surrounding villages and up towards Sherborne.

Mr Jackson said two clients on Preston Road, Weymouth, did not receive the care they were expecting last year - while a further two in Crossways, one of whom is quadriplegic, received pain relief two hours late.

Rowan Jackson of Better Care praised stewards at the Weymouth Ironman (Image: Better Care) Organisers responded to the concerns and said they hired a new stewarding company that has been brought in following great work at the Ironman in Swansea.

Mr Jackson says this definitely made a difference.

Speaking after this year’s race, Mr Jackson said: “It was amazing, they were marvellous, wrote back to us. We were provided with knowledgeable stewards, and were escorted. It was a dream come true.

“One steward even waited an hour outside a client’s home whilst a member of staff provided care for around an hour, before safely escorting them away from the route.

Stewards moving cones to allow care staff to access the road through closures (Image: Better Care) "They really went over and above to help us and provided motorcycle escorts to enable us to get where we needed to be.

“This was only our experience, but everyone we bumped into was great. It was like night and day compared to our previous experience. I understand they got in a different team following their Swansea race and they did exactly what they said they were going to do.

The 2024 Weymouth Ironman (Image: Graham Hunt Photography) "The Ironman organisation truly went over and above to make sure everyone we look after got the care they needed this year and we couldn't be more grateful.”

Thousands of athletes turned out for the triathlon, which took place on Sunday (September 15) and saw Lewis Askey crowned the men’s winner, whilst the women’s winner was crowned as Rachel Dumbrell.

The organisers of Ironman have been approached for comment.