AFTER just missing out on gold two years running, a Tynedale teenager went one better to clinch a national title.

Wark teenager Sean Wylie (18) won silver medals in the U20 British Standard Triathlon Championships two years on the bounce, but was overjoyed his hard work in training resulted in gold this time round.

The talented triathlete, competing for RedVenom, has been more selective in which races to compete in to concentrate on training for the British event, and it paid off with the coveted gold in his last year in the U20 category.

He said: “I was second in this year for two years running and it’s my last year in this category, so I really targeted the win before I step to be the youngest in the 20 to 24 category, where I will have a hard job on my hands.

“I was targeting this as my main race and I put a lot of pressure on myself to win it, although I would have been happy with silver again. However, I was determined to go one better.

“I have tried to do a lot of the national ones this year because I couldn’t go to the Europeans because of exams, so I’m pleased to have got the gold.

“I usually do all the local and regional races but you don’t get the chance to bulk up on the training, but I found that it helped to target this one race and focus on that through training.”

Sean went into the race full of confidence after some great results recently, claiming the English Aquathlon Championships and finishing second in the British Sprint Triathlon Championships.

His swimming continues to be his strength and he came out of the water first in his category in 20:02, his time over 1500m so impressive that just one participant in the 20-24 group was faster.

He then went round the 40km cycle leg in 1:01:19 despite losing a pad on his bike, and he held on to top spot with 37:18 in the running leg of 10km, his least comfortable of all disciplines.

Sean completed the course in 2:02:23.