A RECORD number of entries made this year’s Haltwhistle Aquathlon the best one yet.

A total of 190 participants from across the North-East headed west for the event, hosted by Hexham-based club One Life Racing.

Club member Mark Todhunter took on the responsibility of running the event, and the expertise from the Haydon Bridge youngster currently studying a masters degree in international sports management helped boost the race.

He said: “It was the first time I ran the event and, from my point of view, it went really well, and we had people from eight right up to 50 competing.

“I was a bit nervous about changing the start times to the afternoon, which is the norm for these events, but people seemed to be happy with the lie in!”

There was a lot of success achieved by home members, with Aidan Pinkney (21:12) triumphing in the youth section. Sarah Jackson (26:22) was third in the female race.

Rebecca Wren (18:43) was fastest female, and second overall, in the TriStar 3 category, with Hannah Pinkney (23:54) the winning woman in the adult race, ahead of club mates Elena Bluck (24:30) and Liz Earle (27:16).

Harry Courtney (12:09) was second in the TriStar 2 class, ahead of Tri4u Coaching representative James Dickson (12:50). Olivia Courtney (4:28) was third girl in the TriStart category for the younger participants.