IN glorious sunshine, the first race of the Kelly College Biathlon Series (swim/run) took place in the college grounds on Sunday May 12.

More than 60 competitors from all over Devon took part in the first of a three-race series. The day got off to a flying start with the junior entries.

The first to go was the under 10 boys and girls. This comprised a 100m swim and a 1km run performed without a rest between disciplines.

After the swim section the competitors raced toward the transition area where they quickly added running shoes and a shirt and dashed onto the 1km run course.

First home in the boys was Joe Crick with Jessica Goss leading the way for the girls. One of the most exciting races was in the girls' 10/11 years age group where Francesca Gould and Hattie Hayes were locked in battle. Hattie exited the pool 8 seconds down but managed to pull away on the early stages of the run. Francesca hung on to the pace and coming into the home straight put in a huge effort literally to fall across the line in equal first place with Hattie.

The older age groups got to double the distance for their races a 200m swim followed by a 2km run.

The girls and boys' 14/15 years went off together with the 40/44 years and open categories, which provided the spectators with a great race.

It was nice to see the former Olympian Robin Brew, director of swimming at Kelly College, in action but beaten out of the water by his one of his own squad members, 13-year-old Jack Cockerton.

With the Kelly swimmers eager to beat their coach Robin had to work from the word go to get away and win the open category. Richard Drage from Tavistock Athletics Club piled on the pressure in the run to finish first in the men's 40/44 years and produced the fastest run split of the event.

The biggest surprise of the day was from 14-year-old Beth Campbell Boseley who not only finished first in the 14/15 age category but produced the third fastest overall time of the day. Husband and wife Robert and Carolyn Drage in the 40/44 category went home pleased with themselves as Carolyn won and Robert came second.

The next race will be on Sunday June 9 where distances will be a 150m swim and 1.5km run for the juniors and a 400m swim and 4km run for the older age groups. If you are interested in taking part it is not too late to enter - call Sue for an entry form at Kelly Enterprises on 01822 813130.

Results (Top 3), 100m swim 1Km run: Boys' U10, 1 Joe Crick 7.24.4; 2 Peter Meachin 7.55.9; Oliver Lake 8.14.6. Girls, 1 Jessica Goss 7.56.7; 2 Charlotte Pickard 9.18.7; 3 Hannah Ball 9.31.9.

Boys' 10/11, 1 Tom Worth 6.22.4; 2 Matthew Langman 6.25.2; 3 Nathan Wonnacott 6.41.1.

Girls, equal 1 Hattie Hayes and Francesca Gould 7.30.4; 3 Amy Bayliss 7.44.3.

Boys' 12/13, 1 Alex Richards 5.39.5; 2 Kyle Bayliss 5.52.4; 3 Nicholas Jarman 6.05.2. Girls,1 Caroline Ball 6.32.8; 2 Brikitta Batten 6.35.4; 3 Whitney Bowrin 6.42.4.

200m Swim 2km run: Boys' 14/15, 1 Jack Cockerton 12.02.9; 2 Sebastian Lee 12.12.9. Girls, 1 Beth Campbell Boseley 11.34.6; 2 Louise Amery 12.42.8; 3 Hayley Smith 13.47.0.

Men's 40/44, 1 Richard Drage m11.02.0; 2 Robert Dawe 13.02.8. Women 40/44, 1 Carolyn Dawe 16.11.7.

Men's open, 1 Robin Brew 10.25.6; 2 Gary Herbert 12.37.6.

l LOUISE Amery, Hayley Smith and Alex Richards represented Kelly College in this year`s Torbay Youth Triathlon. The 400m swim, 10k bike and 3.2k run took place in difficult weather conditions. Louise won her age group by finishing the course in 59 mins while Hayley and Alex finished fourth and second respectively.