WORCESTER Triathlon Club’s Les Bailey caused a major surprise by claiming a silver medal in his age category at the Ironman World Championship 70.3.

Bailey, of Peopleton, jetted over to Clearwater, Florida, USA, after winning his 70 to 74-year-old section in Monaco to qualify.

Over 1,200 competitors took part in the top race of the year for Ironman competitors and Bailey had hopes of a top-five finish.

The event consisted of a 12.2-mile out-and-back sea swim, a 56-mile bicycle race on closed roads and a 13.1-mile, two-lap run over a total of 70.3 miles.

Clearwater is a perfect venue with good swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and the bike course was flat as was the run. The weather conditions were ideal with little wind.

Bailey was the only club member to have qualified and started at 6.50am with the various age categories split up.

On the swim, Bailey, suffering with painful knees, finished seventh but made up time and was lying fourth on the run.

He quickly gained two places to finish in the silver medal position of second in a total time of six hours four minutes 31 seconds, which was better than expected.

After many endurance races this year, Bailey will now take a well-earned break until the 2009 season.