RUTH Heatley and Les Bailey of Worcester Tri Club gained international success competing in the Austrian World Powerman Races held in Weyer and Grassraming.

It was part of the World Powerman Duathlon series and was held in excellent racing conditions -- little wind, temperature 29C and some cloud cover. Total entries were over 1,000.

Over 20 countries took part in the races, not only from UK and Europe but also Australia, South Africa and even Mongolia.

Heatley, although entered in the full powerman race, had to switch to the shorter race as two weeks previously she had a bike accident while training, so the chances of being fit to race were unlikely.

However, with plenty of physiotherapy she competed in the Powerman Volksduathlon over the distances of 7km run, 39km hilly bike ride and finally another 7km run to finish in the main town square in Weyer.

Heatley powered herself through the competing international field and not only won gold in her age group (40-49), but also won the women's race by over 10 minutes in a time of 2.21.37.

Bailey competed in the full powerman race of 14km run, 76km bike and finally 7km run.

The course was the same as for the Volksduathlon which meant 345 metres of hill climbing on each bike course.

This was the second time Bailey had raced the course having done so in the World Powerman Championship in 2002. He repeated his success by winning silver in his category (60yrs plus), being beaten by an Austrian. Bailey's overall time was 4.41.09, a little slower than 2002.

As chairman of the Worcester Tri Club Bailey is hoping to put together a Worcester team for Powerman Austria in 2006 as the organisers do such a magnificent job for competitors.

The local population of Weyer and Grassraming also back the race 100 per cent with huge crowds around the run and bike course.