LES Bailey claimed a gold medal in the British National Duathlon Championship near Ashbourne in Derbyshire.

The Worcester Triathlon Club member won the 70 to 74 year category in a time of two hours 56 minutes 28 seconds.

Bailey triumphed by a comfortable margin of five minutes, despite suffering from a sore hip on the final run.

Tracey Hall, in only her second duathlon and the first time competing at championship level, clocked a good time of 3.3:38, making her seventh lady in the 40 to 44 year category.

Steve Lloyd completed the Worcester race trio by finishing in 2.36:06, putting him 22nd in a competitive 40 to 44 year category.

The race was held over one of the toughest courses in the UK at Carsington Water and more than 350 entered with 302 finishing.

The race started with a 12km road and off-road hilly run, followed by a tough hilly 40km bike ride and a 4km flat run.

The weather was kind, a pleasant temperature, but a persistent north-east chilly wind made sections of the bike course demanding. The overall winner of the men's race was world duathlon champion Tim Don in a breathtaking 2.01:48.

The next big race for some Worcester members will be the World Duathlon Championship in Gyor, Hungary, on Sunday.

Those qualified are Marc Scriven, Ray Bunn, Hall, Nick Yarworth and Bailey.