TWO of our esteemed members recently conquered challenging long course events successfully.

Vance Worsley, a dedicated athlete from the club, participated in the Ironman Kalmar Sweden event last month, achieving a commendable finish time of precisely 12 hours.

The competition, held in challenging conditions, commenced with a gruelling 2.4-mile swim in the Baltic Sea, battling against fierce waves.  This was followed by a demanding 112-mile bike leg, made more difficult by strong and unrelenting winds. The endurance test concluded with a 26.2-mile run, covering a full marathon distance, traversing the scenic beach and cityscape.

Vance said that it was a challenging but rewarding experience and was proud to have completed it once again and shaved over 25 minutes off his time six years ago.

Meanwhile, Simon Kershaw, another stalwart from the Andover Triathlon Club, embarked on his debut full Ironman experience at Ironman Copenhagen in Denmark.  Simon's astounding finish time of 11:48.42s marked a remarkable achievement.

The Copenhagen Ironman course unfolded amid the picturesque Scandinavian countryside, along breathtaking coastlines, and through the city centre, offering a unique and captivating journey.  Unlike Vance's challenging start in the Baltic Sea, Simon began his race in a serene lagoon by the sea, a setting that favoured his strong swimming abilities.  He proceeded with a smooth bike leg, encountering no significant obstacles.  However, the final leg, a taxing 26-mile run, posed a formidable challenge for Simon, primarily due to nutrition-related issues.

Reflecting on his performance, Simon said: "After the bike leg, I was on track for a sub-10-hour finish, which I would have been content with and wouldn't need to repeat this gruelling event. Now, I find myself compelled to participate in another Ironman to achieve my target time."

Well done Vance and Simon!