NINE members of Zest Youth Triathlon travelled to the famous Castle Coombe Race track in Wiltshire to take part in the first race of the Brooks South West Children's Championships.
The race was a duathlon which is a continuous race made up of a run, followed by cycle then a further run.
Representing Zest in the Tristar 2 (age 11-12) girls' race were Emily Ackford and Emily Attfield. They set off on their 1.8km run with Emily Ackford leading the race into transition one to get onto the 6km bike section. Emily Attfield went into the bike ride in fifth place where she remained after her final 600metre run, completing the course in 27.16mins with Emily Ackford finishing in fourth in 25.51mins.
Covering the same distance in the Tristar boys' Matt Green and Jordan Channon led all the way to come first in 23.30 mins with Matt placed in fourth in 27.02 mins. In the Tristar 3 (age 13-14 yrs) race Zest's Kate Marks ran the 1.8km and then completed a 9km, three lap ride of the race track followed by an 800metre run to finish in fifth in 39.10mins. Tom Green, Sam O'Boyle and Will Carter raced in the boys' race doing the same distances as Kate.
The boys all had superb 1.8km runs and it was close between them going out onto the bike ride. After the final run section Tom pulled ahead finishing in fourth in 29.42mins with Sam in sixth in 30.31mins and Will in seventh (31mins). In her first year as a youth (age 15-16) Amy Marks completed the two mile run, eight mile cycle and further one mile run in 54mins to finish fifth.