Natalie Barnard pulled off a unique treble in one weekend of gruelling competition. The 21 year old, a member of the FVS TRI triathlon club, joined up with international triathlete colleagues to compete in the British Team Triathlon Championships at Holme

Natalie Barnard pulled off a unique treble in one weekend of gruelling competition.

The 21 year old, a member of the FVS TRI triathlon club, joined up with international triathlete colleagues to compete in the British Team Triathlon Championships at Holme Pierrepoint National Watersports Centre in Nottingham on Saturday.

The race, hotly contested by teams from across the UK, comprises of four members in each team, all of whom complete a full triathlon.

Even with the team carrying a two-minute penalty, she enjoyed being part of the winning team.

Then the current world biathle champion was required to go north to Salford Quays to take part in the European and British Championships the following day.

This was a requirement for Natalie to be eligible to travel to Cape Town, South Africa, to defend her world title on November 1.

International rules stipulate that she must compete in Great Britain during the current season to be eligible to race abroad in biathle (continuous run, swim, run).

Natalie had not raced biathle this year due to a carefully managed triathlon programme which includes her racing the French Grand Prix Series for Team Beauvais, and a punctuation of minor illnesses.

Tired and sore from her previous day's exertions, she decided to settle for a midfield placing to get her required qualification.

But such is her competitive spirit, she broke clear of the field during the swim, and came home by over half a minute to claim the British and European titles to add to her world title.

* FVS TRI's Steve Harrison won the Bedford Olympic Triathlon for the third year in a row in a time of 2-00:06.

Heavy rain and high winds meant the course was a little slower this year and the wet slippery conditions saw nearly 10 per cent of the starting field retiring with punctures and other weather-related incidents!

Twenty two members of FVS TRI completed the course with Will Long, Simon Douglas, Darren Greene, Vicki Goulding, Nina Pitcairn and Meli Fletcher all competing in their first Olympic distance of 1500m river swim, 40k bike and 10k run.

Mike Bridge was second home for the men in 2-10:06 for second in the 25-29 age group and 10th overall, and Mark Robertson was third home for FVS TRI in 2-14:18 for 31st overall.

Kerri Renshaw was the club's leading female in 2-21:09 for third in the 30-34 age group and seventh overall. Helen Shulver was second in 2-38:31 and Chris Yuill third in 2-40:39.

Times: Steve Harrison 2-00:26, Mike Bridge 2-10:06, Mark Robertson 2-14:18, Kerri Renshaw 2-21:09, Chris Baxter 2-27:54, Simon Shaw 2-30:14, Stephen Jones 2-31:25, Helen Shulver 2-38:31, Chris Yuill 2-40:39, Mark Young 2-41:19, Samantha Tophill 2-42:59, Will Long 2-45:28, Greg Evans 2-46:24, Mark Beaver 2-46:48, Darren Greene 2-47:59, Simon Douglas 2-48:04, Ed Manson 2-49:42, Vicki Goulding 2-50:58, Jackie Perry 2-52:09, Greg Blount 3-07:05, Nina Pitcairn 3-09:18, Meli Fletcher 3-18:13.

Richard Melvern was crowned sprint champion in the 60-64 age group at the British Triathlon National Sprint Championships held at Strathclyde Park, Glasgow.

Gemma Sargent was 10th female in the Newmarket Duathlon completing the 5k run, 23k bike and 5k run in 1-32:48.

This was the final race in her preparation for the World Age Group Duathlon Championships in Rimini, Italy, in September.