SEVEN Malvern club members participated in the Bloodwise Blenheim Palace Sprint Triathlon and the Cotswold 113 middle distance triathlon.

Nadine Croney, Janice Wallace and Helen Robson were at the ancestral home of the Churchill family for the second largest triathlon event in the United Kingdom.

Robson entered the super sprint involving a 400-metre swim, 10-kilometre bike section and 3km run alongside 455 others, coming fifth in her 45 to 49 year age group in one hour 11 minutes 56 seconds.

Croney and Wallace both entered the sprint event of a 750m swim, 19.8km bike section and 5.4km run with 4,644 fellow competitors.

Wallace completed her first triathlon in 2.04.18.

It was the second time at Blenheim Palace for Croney and she clocked 1.49.21, shaving 13 minutes off her race time of last year.

The popular event is challenging due to the sheer volume of competitors, hilly bike leg and the cross-winds.

But the event is well run with supportive crowds and fellow triathletes.

Andrew Rickard, Steve Koopacks, Roy Hart and Paul Cope took part in the fast course Cotswold event requiring a 1.2-mile swim. 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run.

Koopacks had to retire from the event with a pothole damaging a wheel on his bike.

It was the first longer distance triathlon for Hart and Cope.

Hart finished in 6.22 and Cope in 5.17 as they both beat their target times.

Rickard, who has competed before, set his sights on a sub six-hour time and achieved it in 5.55.