SEAN UNDERWOOD and Rob Hopkins braved the waters near Canary Wharf at the world’s largest triathlon event on Saturday, the AJ Bell London Triathlon.

Sean has been a man on a mission this year, racing frequently and recently turning his attention to triathlon. Sean was competing in his first Olympic distance triathlon, a 1.5k swim, followed by a 37.5k bike and 9.9k run. Sean finished the course in 2:43:22 ( 36:06 swim, 1:10:09 bike and 47:11 run ) in 1156th place and 198th in M35-39 age category.

Rob Hopkins has years of triathlon experience behind him and is a multiple Ironman finisher in different countries. Later this year, Rob will tackle a triathlon three times longer than the Ironman distance over 420 miles in North Wales.

This weekend, Rob took on the more straight forward ‘Olympic Plus’ distance in London.

Rob was in a field of 265 competitors and after a solid 1.5k swim of 27:31, set off on an elongated 80k bike section and completed it in 2:13:22, an average speed of 36km/h. He rounded off his day with a 43:29 10k run, to finish 20th overall and 2nd in the M40-44 age category.

Jim godden is building up for the Bristol Half Marathon in September and as part of his preparation travelled to The Bath Running Festival on Sunday.

With a range of races from 5k up to the Marathon distance, Jim competed in the 10k event on a hilly course around the University grounds. Jim had a great race, finishing second out of 222 runners in 44:38 and was first place for the 50-59 age category.

Chipping Sodbury Parkrun proved to be the most popular with Thornbury’s runners again. Angela Bushell was top performer on Saturday, breaking her personal best on this course with 23:54 in 77th place and the 10th female. David Palmer was 146th in 27:12, Karen Carr was just one place behind in 27:15 and was followed by Anne Palmer in 266th in 31:52.

Liam Symonds Barry was back at the Gloucester North Parkrun for a second week in a row. His time of 24:35 placed him in 41st.

Ros Rowland headed to Wales on Sunday for the third Snowdonia Trail Marathon.

After a steady procession of stamina sapping hills and technical trails, the race culminates with a long climb up Wales’ highest peak. Ros’ finishing time was 6:12:02, which placed her 227nd overall and a very respectable second in the F50-54 age category.