A BLACKBURN Triathlete has won a place in the Great Britain Team to contest the World Championships in Hawaii just three weeks after his father won his first National Championship in cycling at the age of 69.

Blackburn Road Runner Martin Kerry will contest Category I for athletes aged 45-49 over the Olympic distance on October 8 after clinching his spot in the first of three qualifying events over the summer.

Representing the Tri-Preston Club, he finished fifth in age at the Shropshire Triathlon, with a run of 41:40 for ten kilometres following an open water swim of 1500m metres, and a bike ride of 40 kilometres.

Meanwhile, Martin's father Frank, from Egerton near Bolton, won the National Veteran's 100 mile Cycling Championship co-incidentally also in Shropshire, when he completed the route from Whitchurch to Shrewsbury in four hours and 23 minutes. He won the title for all veterans over 40 after taking account of a handicap system for age.

For Martin, the Hawaii trip will be his second appearance for the Great Britain Team as he has also been chosen for the European Championships in Switzerland on August 20.

According to him, the selection criteria for the Europeans was a little less tight with anyone who had beaten two hours 20 minutes being considered, while his time in Shropshire was 2:12:30 and he made the team with just a minute in hand.

Kerry becomes the second Blackburn Road Runner to win international honours following the appearance of Anne Harwood in the World Triathlon Championships at Edmonton in 2001.

For the Tri-Preston club, there was double success with Anna Willets being selected in the under 25 age group They have several training bases around the area including the Virgin Gym in Preston and Hewitt's Bike Shop in Leyland. Martin is also grateful to Science in Sport at Brockhall for their support.

Both of Martin's Great Britain trips will be self-funded so any offers of help would be appreciated. You can contact him on 01254-262695 (evenings).