A big contingent of 22 UTC members took to the crystal clear waters of Derwentwater early on Sunday morning to set off on a journey which would take them most of the day to complete.
For one of them, Paul Rodger, participation in the Lakesman Triathlon would bring with it the glory of the runners-up prize, while for the others it earned them the immense satisfaction of completing a gruelling Ironman-distance race in sweltering heat.
And over in Austria, UTC’s Duncan Eley grabbed a top-40 finish running for Great Britain in the ETU Triathlon European Championships. Eley produced a commendable debut in GB colours, completing the Olympic distance race in a time of two hours, 26 minutes and 58 seconds to finish 39th in the 35-39 age categotry in the alpine resort of Kitzbuhel.
Much closer to home, the second staging of the Lakesman saw hundreds of endurance athletes take on a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile stunning bike route, and a five-lap spectator-friendly marathon in a race which started and finished in Keswick.
Conditions were punishing on the run leg in particular, but the 19 UTC representatives in the individual race all managed to get the job done, as did the team of three ladies in the relay event.
Rodger led the club home as he blitzed the course in nine hours, 46 minutes and five seconds to land second place out of 270 finishers.
The 43-year-old completed the 2.4-mile swim in 1:04:04 before setting off on a bike ride from Keswick to Cockermouth and around the West Cumbrian coast, which he achieved in 5:14:57.
Then there came the small matter of running a full marathon in red hot conditions – a feat he managed in 3:21:38.
The only man to beat Rodger was Chorley’s Joe Duckworth, who won in a super-fast nine hours and 15 minutes.
Duckworth is a formidable competitor, a European long course triathlon champion, and like Rodger, he has represented Great Britain at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
Rodger was not the only UTC member to post an impressive time.
Stuart Garnett finished a brilliant sixth in 10:11:03, and Mike Gregory was not too far behind, getting home in eleventh place in a time of 10:34:35.
One-time Barrow Raiders player Ryan Wood finished the mighty challenge in 11:15:52 to claim 31st place, while former Super League player Gary Broadbent completed his first Ironman in 11:23:43. Broadbent, who received entry to the Lakesman as a Christmas present from wife Emma, and who trains regularly with UTC, rose the challenge to finish 37th, raising money for local charity Jo’s Appeal.
Ulverston Tri Club individual results at Lakesman Triathlon: Paul Rodger (9:46:05); Stuart Garnett (10:11:03); Mike Gregory (10:34:35); Ryan Wood (11:15:52); Gary Broadbent (11:23:43); Colin McKenna (11:46:03); Paul Walduck (11:49:32); Darren Eccles (11:54:29); Paul McKenny (12:02:23); Ben Park (12:12:37); Damian Jones (12:23:09); Tom Southward (12:40:32); Mark Swainson (13:07:13); Kevin Rooney (13:20:24); Marcus Chapman (13:22:15); Chris Clinch (13:23:54); Paul Stanway (13:42:52); Ken Lamb (14:08:01); Julie Cavin (14:34:32); Annaliese Sales (15:10;24).
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