ROSSENDALE Tri club scooped the major prizes at the Darwen Masters Triathlon on Sunday as their athletes took first and second in both the men's and women's races.

The event, based at Darwen Leisure Centre, started with a 500 metre swim. That failed to separate the leading protagonists as veteran Paul Cook was fastest in 9.45 with Nick Riding third in 9.45. Stephen Rimmer (Mersey Tri Club) recorded 9.46 on his way to a final fourth place. The route for the 16-mile bike ride took the cyclists climbing through Tockholes before skirting Belmont on the way to Egerton. From there it was a downhill run on the main A666 back to the Leisure Centre in the middle of the town.

Riding and Cook were faster than any of their competitors as Nick recorded 45.36 to take a slight advantage over Paul (46.0). The final stage was a five mile run which started with a climb up Tockholes Road then went off-road across Darwen Moors before returning the same way. It was on this leg that disaster struck Nick as stomach cramps led to vomiting.

Paul won the event by nearly a minute leaving Nick to reflect on his fourth successive second place this year. Paul's run of 30.31 was the second fastest of the day, and it meant that he had been first or second in all three disciplines. Consistent Matt Nuttall of Darwen Cycles took third with last year's winner Paul Thompson of Clayton, fifth. Natalie Farnworth of Darwen Masters was the first lady out of the pool in 10.17, a lead of over 90 seconds, but Jackie Moppett was quickest on the bike by over four minutes and led Cheryl Cook after two disciplines. Although Cheryl set the fastest time on the run, Jackie was second fastest and took the race by three minutes with runner-up Cook winning the veteran class. Farnworth was third and Alison Bullivant, the second veteran, fourth. For the first time this year teams were admitted to the event, winners in 9th overall were Stephen Brittain (swim), Dene Fisher (bike) and Kevin Shanley (run).

Results - Men: 1 Paul Cook (1) 1:26.16, 2 Nick Riding (R) 1:27.05, 3 Matt Nuttall (DC) 1:29.41, 4 Stephen Rimmer (M) 1:31.10, 5 Paul Thompson (C) 1:31.11. Veterans: 1 (7th) Ralph Holt (B) 1:32.12, 2 (14th) Stephen French 1:40.57, 3 Tony Nicholls (17th) 1:41.29. Over 50: 1 (21st) Tony Hesketh (H) 1:42.17. Teams: 1 (9) Stephen Brittain, Dene Fisher, Kevin Shanley 1:37.17, 2 (19th) Margaret Farnworth, Keith Robinson, Barry Crewdson.

Ladies: 1 (11th) Jackie Moppett (R) 1:38.29, 2 (18th) Cheryl Cook (R) 1:41.36, 3 (28th) Natalie Farnworth (DM) 1:46.23. Veterans: 1 C Cook 2 (34th) Alison Bullivant 1:49.08, 3 (61st) Hilary Bell (DD) 2:14.13.

Key: R Rossendale Tri Club, DC Darwen Cycles, M Mersey Tri Club, C Clayton Harriers,s B Bolton Metro, H Horwich, DM Darwen Masters, DD Darwen Dashers.

Jason Howard was second British finisher in the Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon at Club La Santa, finishing in 42nd place out of over 500 runners in 10 hours 15 minutes. Jason was one of four athletes from Rossendale Triathlon Club in the race, Garrie Prosser recorded 11.40, Nick Bower 12.0 and Chris Domoney 13.00. An Ironman Triathlon consists of an open water swim of 2.4 miles, 112-mile cycle ride and Marathon run. The distances are those raced over the first such event to be held which was in Hawaii. The Lanzarote event is one of the toughest Ironman events in the calendar, and Jason's performance is likely to earn himself a place in the classic Hawaii race.

Rossendale Triathlon Club is the most successful Tri Club in the area. Although it is a part of Rossendale Harriers, it has its own identity and is effectively a club within a club with around 50 members. They train together four days a week, swimming at Hyndburn Leisure Centre on Mondays at 9.30pm, cycling and running from Marl Pits on Tuesdays at 6.30pm, and running with the Harriers on Thursdays at 7pm from the same venue.

On a Sunday there is a bike ride from Whalley at 10am. They also organise their own event, a Biathlon (swim and run) in September. For further details about the club call Garrie Prosser on 01706 228547.

Calendar: June 27 National Championship, Shropshire; July 18 Quays Breeze Triathlon, Salford Quays; August 8 West Lancs Triathlon; August 14 Port Erin Bay Triathlon, Isle of Man; August 22 National Sprint Championships, Salford Quays; September 19 Blackburn Duathlon.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.