THREE members of Tunbridge Wells Triathlon Club showed impressive stamina despite soaring temperatures at the Ironman UK competition in Lancashire.
Wildfires across the moors had forced a last-minute change to the classic route with the addition of the testing climb up Anglezarke.
The iconic event started with a 2.4-mile swim in Pennington Flash. Stephen Dunkerley impressed with a time of one hour 21 minutes.
Steve Lindsey controlled his effort in the early stages of his debut race over this distance and exited the water comfortably in 1:34.
He then showed his strength on the bike and progressed through the field with a 5:57 split.
Chris Dickinson, also trying his first Ironman, was measured performance from start to finish.
Just minutes separated the club-mates at the start of the four-lap marathon.
Dickinson was first home, crossing the line in 12:55 and recording a respectable 4:46 marathon.
Lindsey completed the run in 5:10 to finish in 13:20 while Dunkerly crossed in 13:50.
Grant Aitken and Eric Perrier were representing Team GB at the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship in Fyn, Denmark.
The prestigious multi-sport event was held over O3 (triple Olympic) distance. Aitken impressed with a 53-minute 4km swim in Odense Harbour.
Perrier was close behind and then excelled on the bike, recording 3:35 for the 120km cycle.
Aitken raced hard all of the way, recording 3:43 for the bike before a well paced 2:20 split for the 30km run. He crossed the line in 7:03, securing 22nd in the competitive M50 Age Group.
Perrier battled a knee injury to record 2:33 for the running section, finishing just eight minutes behind in 7:11, 25th in the same category.
PICTURE: HOT PURSUIT: (L-R) Chris Dickinson, Steve Lindsey and Stephen Dunkerley in Bolton
