IRONMAN first-timer Gary Broadbent paid tribute to fellow athletes and Lakesman Triathlon organisers and their team of tireless volunteers for making the event such a big success.

Broadbent often trains with Ulverston Tri Club, who had more than 20 competitors finish the race in north Cumbria, led by Paul Rodger who came home in the runners-up spot in nine hours, 46 minutes and five seconds.

Former rugby league professional Broadbent said: “From a local point of view both Ulverston Tri and West Cumbria Tri did really well in terms of numbers and where they finished.

“I put a Tweet out about the volunteers. They were all fantastic. The patience and time that they showed for everyone, giving you drinks and sponging you down. They were there all day and did a great job.

“The whole event was really, really good. Getting up here to register the day before and seeing how well they had organised everything. The attention to detail they had gone to was amazing to be fair.

“We were in the campsite and there people up from down south and all over the place. It’s getting bigger and bigger.”

By completing his first Ironman-distance race, Broadbent also managed to raise more than £700 for Jo’s Appeal – the charity set up in memory of former Evening Mail features writer Jo Davies.

The charity, which supports The Eve Appeal, St Mary’s Hospice and the Furness General Hospital oncology unit, has raised more than £70,000 since being set up in the wake of Jo’s death from ovarian cancer in August 2015, at the age of 38.