A FIVE-STRONG Petersfield Triathlon Club (PTC) team took on the Hart Sprint Triathlon.

The event also acted as round one of the Everyone Active South East Championship Series.

It comprised of a 400m swim in the pool at Hart Leisure Centre, a 20km bike ride around flat and fast roads, and a flat 4.5km run.

Taking part in her first sprint distance event, Renaye Hawes put in a valiant performance to finish in one hour, 30 minutes and 40 seconds after getting sent the wrong way on the bike.

A close battle occurred between Nigel Bird, who finished in one hour, 19 minutes and 13 seconds, and Michael Chadwell, who finished in one hour, 18 minutes and five seconds. A storming run leg from Chadwell overturned the deficit generated by wrong turns and traffic lights on the bike.

The final two members taking part were Leighton Jones, who finished in one hour, four minutes and 24 seconds, and Josh Lahiri, who finished in one hour, four minutes and four seconds.

Lahiri is preparing for the Age Group European Championships over the longer standard distance in the Netherlands.

After a tight battle in the swim Lahiri’s swift transitions pulled out a slight gap, before more navigational issues on the bike led to Jones taking a near two-minute lead. In the run to the finish Lahiri overhauled the deficit to take the honours among the PTC contingent in 46th place overall, with Jones in 48th place.