Mansfield in fine form (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Mansfield in fine form

EASTNOR Castle was the setting for the first ever locally staged half Ironman distance Triathlon.

Tewkesbury Athletic Club's Phillip Howells and Jon Mansfield were in action and started with a two-lap swim in the Castle lake before cycling a four-lap course over the Malverns, taking in 54 miles of climbing and descending.

The final discipline was ten miles of tough running through East-nor Deer Park.

Howells, relatively new to swimming, was pleased to be back on dry land after 52 minutes in a partially muddy lake!

The ultra-distance athletes' swim went to plan however, what wasn't in the plan was a trio of setbacks on the bikes.

A snapped gear cable was one handicap the experience cyclist had to contend with - a major problem on a course where a minimum of 18 gears is crucial.

After a smooth transition, the Ledbury competitor, set off at pace into the ten miles of running. His pace never slackened and went on the cross the finish line in six hours and four minutes for 95th finisher.

Mansfield, meanwhile, completed the lake swim in 25 minutes which left the 38-year-old in 33rd position.

His cycle ridethen went better than expected although it wasn't until the fourth lap that the leading female triathlete was caught.

Setting off on the run being pursued by the fast moving female challenger, Mansfield was able to catch another runner ahead and settled into 14th position before having to sprint finish to hold off the first place lady and clock four hours and 22 minutes.

The top placed Three Counties finisher was Jon Rawlings (Tri Team Glos) in ninth place on a day when 126 athletes entered and 100 completed the course.

A couple of members raced at Newent s 18th annual sprint distance triathlon.

With the unfortunate late withdrawals of Barry O'Driscoll and Sandie Harwood, it was just Mansfield and Barbara Dunn who were treated to spectacular thunderstorm during a three-hour deluge.

Dunn, making her return to racing after an 18-month lay-off, didn't let the weather affect her clocking a time a little under 90 minutes for 114th place overall.

Mansfield, the 2005 winner, took on the waterlogged lanes with caution and, a finishing time of 55 minutes meant that he had to settle for the runners-up spot this time around 36 seconds adrift of the winner. He then recorded a 12th podium finish of the year at a duathlon in Lydbrook when finishing third.

Club vice-captain Jason Draper, meanwhile, earned a top 50 finish at the Kenilworth Half-Marathon where he clocked 1.29.45.