TWO hundred competitors – including 18 Harwich Runners – entered the tenth Harwich Sprint Triathlon.

The event started in ideal conditions but soon became very wet, resulting in testing conditions for both competitors and the marshals lining the route.

Several Harwich Runners achieved first place in their age categories.

The fastest performance came from the experienced Simon Day, who missed out on first place overall by a mere one second, in a time of one hour, seven minutes and 34 seconds, winning the 40-44 category.

Next home, possibly producing the performance of the day, was Justin Burls, winning the 50-54 age category in 1h 13m 37s.

Sam Gooding-Matthews and John Francis both recorded good times of 1h 14m 30 and 1h 14m 47s to gain second places in the 25-29 and 50-54 age categories.

Ever-improving Robin Brookes was another finishing in second place, clocking 1h 20m 5s in the 45-49 age group.

Steve Tatum was fourth, in 1h 21m 53s, and Colin Harvey 14th, in 1h 44m 58s.

William Roxby-Clarke managed 1h 21m 25s, helped by a fast bike leg, and was fourth in the 25-29 age category. Robert Matthews was another finisher in a time of 1h 43m 25s.

Dennis Warner, making a welcome return to the event he brought to the town, returned to do battle with team-mate Nick Beales, in the 55- 59 age group.

Warner, having not lost his competiveness, finished third in 1h 17m 24, with Beales fourth in 1h 20m 41s.

Johnny Zeeuw posted a time of 1h 27m 29s, in fifth place.

Jeff Higgon and Peter Fraser-Hopewell were in the 60-64 age group, with Higgon ahead in second place in 1h 23m 56s and Fraser-Hopewell fourth in 1h 34m 3s.

Myles Doran, in his first triathlon, should be well pleased with his second place in the under-18 age group in a time of 1h 40m 2s.

Harwich Runners ladies had a very good day.

Elspeth Knott, as always, was a comfortable winner in the 65-69 age group in a time of 1h 21m 53s, which placed her as fourth lady overall.

Jo Higgon achieved her second age group win this season in the 55-59 category in a time of 1h 34m 56s.

Daughter Katie made full use of her extra Tri-Spoke training to not only post the fastest swim time of the day but also finish in a competitive time of 1h 37m and fifth place in the 30-34 age group.