The thermometers barely registered above zero, but that didn’t stop more than 500 athletes competing in the 9Bar Chilly 10km and Duathlon at the Castle Combe race circuit on Sunday morning, writes ANDREW LAWTON.

The event has grown substantially since its inception seven years ago, where the two races attracted less than 200 competitors.

On Sunday, all experiences, skills and age groups were in attendance as well as a special appearance from two-time Olympic champion Ed Clancy.

Clancy was making an appearance for event sponsors 9Bar, but even his cycling prowess was not enough to get his relay team a place on top of the duathlon podium.

Team DB Max’s Mike Towler, from Trowbridge, and Jeff Jones, took the top step with a time of 41:12.9, while Great Britain representative James Coleman, from Westwood, won the individual event.

Coleman completed the ten-mile bike ride sandwiched between two, two-mile runs in 44 minutes 8.1 seconds, more than half a minute ahead of Alan Murchison in second.

“It’s good, (there’s a) great bunch of people here, the standard is really good with guys like Alan (Murchison) and Ben Price,’’ he said.

“I wanted to see Ed (Clancy) on the bike course but I didn’t, (he) probably flew past me too quickly. But yeah it’s my first win here so I’m happy.”

Coleman only started duathlon last year, coming third at Combe in 2012, but has already had incredible success picking up a gold medal at the World Duathlon Championships in Otawa in August.

In the earlier 10k race, wheelchair athlete Daniel Cook, from Synergy Running Club, broke the tape first in under 30 minutes with City of Bath Athletics Club athlete George Frost crossing the line in just under 35 minutes, ahead of Rob Smyth.

MORE CASTLE COMBE CHILLY PICTURES PLUS AN INTERIEW WITH DOUBLE OLYMPIC TRACK CYCLING CHAMPION ED CLANCY IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES