IT is pretty much the off season for triathlon right now, but there are still multi-sport events happening.

And last weekend saw athletes from Dursley RC’s triathlon section keeping their hand in doing aquathon (swimming and running) and duathlon, which is a run, then bike and back to run.

Trish Mansell and Chris Young, the club’s new Triathlete of the Year, headed over to Tewkesbury for the first event in the six-series winter aquathon.

Cold but clear conditions made for a very enjoyable event and some good completion.

Mansell took an early lead with a great swim but a continuation of Young’s good recent running form saw him peg it back to ultimately take the honours in the club rivalry.

Both finished with respectable times for the 400m swim and 5km aquathlon event, 31:47mins and 33:40mins respectively.

Meanwhile, over at Cirencester, four of the team participated in the muddy off road duathlon, the recent rain and north-westerly breeze made for a cold and slippery first run over undulating terrain.

But by all accounts, by the time the athletes hit the mountain bikes conditions had improved and resulted in more traction on the grass, gravel roads and tracks than has been reported in previous events.

The event was excellently organised and marshalled by Triferris.

First home for DRC Tri was Richard Pitts in one hour 28:54mins, and closely followed by Andrew Oborne in one hour 30:06mins The other two competitors Phil Young and Debbie Seal completed the short course option in 56:54mins and 57:42mins respectively.