WORCESTER Triathlon Club's Les Bailey has proved his duathlon skills at British, European and world level over the past two months.

All races consisted of a run, bike ride and a final run over a variety of courses.

Bailey, competing in the 70 to 74-year-old category, scooped gold at the British and then a world silver.

His latest medal was at the European Duathlon Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, when he secured silver.

Bailey, part of the Great Britain age group team, tackled a classic 10km, 40km and 5km with an undulating run and a tough, hilly bike course.

The weather was bad with a persistent chilly east wind and rain all day made the technical bike course even more difficult as many accidents and drop-outs occurred.

But the course suited Bailey and, despite the weather, he enjoyed the race but narrowly missed out on gold, finishing in a total time of 2 hours, 36 minutes 21 seconds. Fellow Worcester members competed with Nick Yarworth 10th in the 45 to 49-year-old section in 2:13.17.

Tracy Hall was 11th in the 40 to 44 category in 2:43.11 and Ray Bunn was fifth in the 65 to 69 section in 2:52.05.

Bailey's previous performances saw him easily win gold at the British Championships in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, on one of the toughest duathlon courses in the UK.

Bailey qualified as a Great Britain age group team member for the World Duathlon Championships in Gyor, Hungary.

Despite opponents from Australia, USA and South Africa, he managed silver, just failing to get gold in the final part of the race.

Information concerning the triathlon club is available by ringing the club chairman on 01905-840082.