THE favoured race for Black Country Triathletes last weekend was the Staffordshire Ironman 70.3 middle distance race.

The event consisted of a 1.2 mile swim in Chasewater reservoir, a very wet 56-mile bike course across Cannock Chase and a 13.1 mile run in and around the Shugborough estate.

First home for BCT was Chris Wood in a time of 4.51.08 finishing 11th in his age group. Neil Millward followed him home in a time of 5.01.29, then Neil Howells in 5.17.15, Richard Hancher in 5.27.59, Keith Bate in 5.33.18 and first in his age group, Tim Blewitt in 5.34.05, Matt Price in 5.41.48, Paul Gamston in 5.42.21, Mark Southall in 5.52.23, Martin Dodd in 5.53.16 and Cheryl Blewitt in 6.01.47.

James Hayward stopped the clock in 6.07.00, Paul Silk 6.12.33, Lee Barker in 6.13.08, Pat Hackett 6.19.15 and fourth in age group, Kevin Anson 6.34.54 and Tim Price in 7.51.19.

Ed Bolland started the race and completed the swim in 29.26 and bike in 2.40.27 but due to injury sadly couldn’t complete the run.

Also taking on a middle distance race was Mike Anslow and Andrew Dugmore who competed in the Cotswold 113 based at the Ashton Keynes water park.

Weather conditions made racing difficult but despite a bike crash and puncture Anslow came home in a time of 4.57.22 and Dugmore in a time of 7.13.20.

It was a family affair in Leeds as both parents and children took on the many races that were put on as part of the ITU World Triathlon event with open water swim.

Father and daughter Mark and Lauren Evans competed in the standard distance open event finishing just one minute apart in 2.30.13 and 2.31.40.

Fathers Shameer Gopal and Gary Taylor competed in the sprint distance race finishing in 2.00.37 and 2.11.41 with their respective children Cian and Leah Gopal and Zak Taylor racing in the junior triathlon races along with Noah Sandland.

Reece Ashfield and Zoe Brickley raced in the youth aquathlon finishing in a time of 18.51 and 21.37, and Holly Lewis came home with a silver medal in her age group from the open aquathlon in a time of 41.38.

Chester was race venue for David Nash and Lee Moreton who competed in the Diva standard distance race.

Nash came home in 2.14.44 and Moreton in 2.20.23, which also saw both of them finishing fifth in their age group.