‘This was an emotional race. This time last season I was taking part in the same race when someone unfortunately failed to come out of the water. It was tough to deal with and on the day and a few of us did all that I could to help search but to no avail.

Since that race it always been in the back of mind and I avoid racing the later races of their series and the early ones this season but I needed to do this for him and myself.

To say it was hard to start was an understatement. I had a small break down whilst talking to the organisers but it had to be done. In clear water I went as hard as my mind would take me and exited first but a few guys close behind. Heading out onto the bike I looked to settle into a good pace. The young guy who came out 2nd exited well out of the park but blew up within 1km as I went pass a bus thought it was a good time to pull out on me as I was doing 47kph. I hit the brakes & somehow stayed upright. However about couple km I heard a loud hissing noise… That’s right… puncture, game over. 2nd and 3rd came by 30sec later and then a massive gap of over a minute back to a slow moving 4th.

I was soon picked up by race support and not wishing to end the day like this I racked and ran out like I was racing. After lap one as I passed T2 I saw the first guy off his bike (3rd on the road) so I looked to run as if he was chasing me. He just caught me as I crossed the line in 17.58 – must have been my new asics Hyper Tri 2 shoes.

I feel that there is still unfinished business here so I will look to return on the 27th to finish the race full

Fingers crossed not technicals next week’

As raced and reported by Mark Yeoman