Last updated at 15:59, Tuesday, 03 July 2012

ENJOYMENT and endurance, but not necessarily in that order, were on the agenda as the tough got going in the Windermere Triathlon.

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Around 170 took part in the gruelling challenge, which saw competitors swim about 1km in the lake, cycle 43km around it and then run 10km around The Glebe, in Bowness.

David Newell, events director for organiser Adventure Challenge Solutions, said the number of entrants had increased each year it had been running.

The overall winner was Luke Walsh, who completed the course in an impressive two hours and 10 minutes.

Mr Newell said although there had been shorter triathlons organised in and around Windermere before, his event was the first Olympic-length triathlon to take place there.

With British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee having high hopes in the triathlon at the Olympics this year, Mr Newell said he thought the event could be even busier in 2013, as more people were inspired to take part.

He decided to organise the event after working in Ambleside as an event manager for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Part of his work involved arranging for blind long-distance runner Dave Heeley to complete seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven days in 2008.

Mr Newell set up ACS in 2010, with the Windermere Triathlon as its first event.

He said: “Windermere was the first year and it just jumped out at me. The bike ride length was almost perfect and the swim around the middle of the lake is exactly right. The run around The Glebe at the end is beautiful.”

A keen triathlete and cyclist in the past, Mr Newell, 38, from Lindale, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the same year he set up the company and chose the Multiple Sclerosis Society as its charity partner to try to help others with the condition.

He said: “I can’t compete in any of the races I organise at the moment, and that is really frustrating.”

First published at 13:36, Tuesday, 03 July 2012
Published by http://www.walneylocal.co.uk