KIE Jackson and Duncan Eley excelled on a brilliant weekend of racing for Ulverston Tri Club.

Jackson won the tough True Mountain Coniston Standard Distance race on Saturday, while 24 hours later Eley finished 16th in a strong international field at the Leeds Open Standard Distance event.

Eley was one of several UTC members in action in Leeds, in what was a great showcase for the swim-cycle-run sport.

The highlight was Alistair and Jonny Brownlee’s one-two on home soil in the elite race – the BBC -televised World Triathlon Series event – while Bermuda’s Flora Duffy, who has family from Barrow, came second behind America’s Gwen Jorgensen in the women’s race.

Taking on a 1.5-kilometre swim in Roundhay Park before a 41.5km bike and 10km run around the city centre, Eley came home in a brilliant time of two hours, seven minutes and 22 seconds.

With more than 80,000 people lining the streets of Leeds, it was a great atmosphere, and the UTC brigade rose to the challenge to put in some excellent performances.

Eley was followed home by club-mates Stu Garnett (2:15:59) Simon Thompson (2:19:40) Paul Rodger (2:20:06) Colin McKenna (2:22:00) Ben Park (2:25:36) Mark Swainson (2:29:44) Alex Fairer (2:35:18), Susan Dowker-Thompson (2:55:15) and Victoria McMurtha (3:05:36).

Twenty-four hours earlier, Jackson had left the Coniston Standard Distance field for dead as he shot round the undulating Lakeland course in 2:26:52.

After swimming 1,500 metres in Coniston Water in 23:49, Jackson flew round the hilly 40km bike course in 1:12:59 and completed a great day’s work with a 10k time of 43:18.

Another outstanding effort came from UTC’s veteran England Masters runner Bob Atkinson, who posted the quickest 10k time of the day (38:01) to help him to eighth place overall.

Other UTC finishers were Cian Nutt (2:44:30) Matt Knagg (2:47:42) Danny Burns (2:51:56) Elsie Roberts (2:55:20) Matt Davies (3:02:04) and Peter Blackburn (3:04:39).

There was also success for the club in the 3k Coniston Picnic Swim, with Gareth Brown winning in a very fast time of 40 minutes dead.

The following day, UTC pair Mike Vogler and Chris Clinch took on the gruelling True Mountain Coniston Old Man Tri, which comprises a 2,000-metre swim, 70km on the bike and a 20km run taking in the peaks of Wetherlam, Swirl How and Coniston Old Man.

Both Vogler and Clinch posted impressive top-20 finishes, with Vogler coming home in 14th in 6:51:08 and Clinch finishing five places behind him in 7:03:41.

Josh Bailey, UTC’s recently-appointed new head coach, was thrilled with the weekend’s efforts.

“I just want to say a massive congratulations to all those who raced and supported the athletes at the weekend,” he said.

“The dedication and support across the entire club is an inspiration and is only made possible by the members helping and encouraging each other.

“It is great to see UTC colours out in force and everyone performing so fantastically well.”

Several battle-hardened UTC members will be out in force this Sunday for the inaugural Lakesman Triathlon – a Keswick-based Ironman which features a 2.4 mile swim, 112-miles cycle ride and then a marathon.

The following Sunday it’s UTC’s first club race of the year, a sold-out event featuring short and long course distances and helping to raise funds for Furness charity Jo’s Appeal.

Barrovian Matt Albery, who now lives in Australia, battled his way through choppy waters and a niggling injury to post an excellent 80th place (17th in 40-44 age group) in the Ironman 70.3 Cairns race at the weekend.