HEXHAM was awash with young triathletes at the weekend for the return of the town's annual event.

Close to 150 people took part in One Life Racing's Hexham Triathlon, which saw competitors make a splash in the Wentworth Leisure Centre pool, cycle through parts of the town and then return to Wentworth to run around the venue's outdoor track.

There was a home success for Rebecca Wren who took top spot for the girls in the TriStar 3 category, just missing out on the overall top three by finishing fourth.

She was not far off eventual winner Kieron Mutch, of Ryton Tri Club, with Sun City Tri's Connor Prior second and Kyle Rabjohn, of Richmond Triathlon Club, third.

Behind Rebecca in the girls' race was Amy Leonard, of Coalfields Tri, and Cecilia Reid, of Ryton.

There was double triumph for One Life in the youth category with Aidan Pinkney and Bethan Nitsch claiming victories in their respective races.

Aidan saw off the challenge of Richmond's Jake Stephenson and Dylan Soley, with Bethan finishing ahead of Ryton's Abbie Lewis and Carlisle Tri Junior Ashleigh Longford.

Further gold for One Life came courtesy of Harry Courtnery in the TriStar 2 race, as he saw off the challenge of Ryton duo Joe Swanston and Tom Slane.

Ryton provided plenty of stiff competition with Elizabeth McKinnon winning the girls' race, ahead of Alnwick District Triathlon Club's Millie Breese and Ryton teammate Heather Robinson.

In the youngest category, Aidan Tuner, of North Shields Poly, took top spot to deny Ryton duo Jamie Longergan and Matthew Graham. Ryton teammate Niamh Longergan won the girls' event, with North Shields competitor Anna Johnson and Ailsa Rodgers, of Durham Triathlon Club.

The TriStar 1 was won by Darlington Triathlon Club member Alex Boyer, with Aiden Colmer, of Cleveland Triathlon Club, and George Turner, of North Shields, making up the top three.

Isabel Swanston, of Ryton, denied One Life's Tabitha Robson and Ania Stobbart in the girls' race.

There was also a race for junior or adult triathletes, with Dominic Cook, of One Life, kept off top spot by Sun City's Luke McCormack. Steve Pugh was third.

There was a similar story in the women's race as One Lifer Sarah Stobbart finished either side of champion Mandy Jardine and third placed Katherine Preston, both of Durham.