Rochdale Triathlon Club take part in the gruelling IronMan UK race

Mark Byrom looking motivated as he ascents Sheephouse Lane for the second time

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On Sunday 20 July, Rochdale Triathlon Club descended on Bolton to take on the IronMan UK long distance triathlon, held around Pennington Flash, Rivington and Bolton.

IronMan UK, now in its tenth year, is a long distance triathlon which takes part across the globe.

The race consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2 mile marathon run. It is widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.

Twelve entrants from Rochdale Triathlon Club had made physical and personal commitments over the past year in order to train for the event. Some of the athletes had completed similar distance races before, but for many this was a first attempt at a long distance triathlon.

RTC members did well, with spectators cheering athletes up Sheephouse Lane, a climb that is tackled twice over the two lap 180km bike course.

Not all club members were as lucky, and there were two notable omissions from the second lap. Mark Pollitt and Cath Hartwell had both fallen and broken bones during the bike course, ending their day prematurely.

Ten athletes from RTC completed the course.

Athletes finishing times:

• Mark Byrom 11:02:09
• Gavin Meadows 11:51:51
• Chris Green 12:01:31
• Neil Hollingsworth 12:50:26
• Mike Galloway 13:12:34
• Gary Coppinger 14:08:30
• Andy Paslowski 14:09:41
• Martin Ormesher 14:19:06
• Huw Fry 14:30:10
• Simon Beswick 16:32:18
• Mark Pollitt - retired injured (broken arm from bike crash)
• Cath Hartwell - retired injured (dislocated shoulder from bike crash)