FORMER Activity Zone employee Julian Hatcher won the eighth MOTI-Felt Malmesbury Triathlon at the venue on Sunday.

The Bristol athlete, who won his age group at the European Championships earlier this year, was competing for the MOTI-Giant team and finished the 400m swim, 22km bike ride and five kilometre run in a new coruse record of 58 minutes and five seconds, knocking more than a minute off his time of two years ago.

His impressive performance, with the 270 competitors facing high winds on the bike ride, gave him victory in front of Bristol’s Paul Ryman (1:01.49), with Chris Biddulph, of the Army Triathlon Assosciation, third just four seconds behind.

The overall ladies winner was Lisa Greenfield, from Tetbury, also racing for MOTI-Giant, who also beat the course record she set two years ago, clocking 1:04.47 to come and impressive overall seventh.

Trowbridge’s Rachel Bown was second for the DB Max Tri team in 1:10.51, with Team Kennet’s Rachel Elliott 19 seconds further back.

Chippenham’s Matthew Griffin won a competitive juior category, for Cycology Bikes, ending fourth overall in 1:02.43, five minutes ahead of his junior rivals.

Other results

Male 40-44: Andrew Shipton (Stroud); 45-49: Nicgel Unwin; 50-54: Terry Dudley (Calne); 55-59: Ron White (Hogweed Trotters; 60+: Clive Power (Corsham); Top Malmesbury finisher: 15 Daniel Webb 1:09.17 (PB).

Female 40-44: Rachel Bown (Trowbridge); 45-49: Sarah Gunn (Cirencester AC); 50-54: Rose Metalli (Newbury RC); 55+: Alice Waldron (Malmesbury); First Malmesbury finisher: Nicola Denning 1:16.26.

Full results at dbmax.co.uk PICTURES FROM MALMESBURY TRIATHLON IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD, CHIPPENHAM EDITION