It was a memorable weekend for local triathlon club FVS TRI. Steve Harrison won the Bedford Classic Olympic Triathlon and Penny Wylie won an age group bronze at the European Long Course Triathlon Championships in Holland. Three FVS TRI athletes represente

It was a memorable weekend for local triathlon club FVS TRI.

Steve Harrison won the Bedford Classic Olympic Triathlon and Penny Wylie won an age group bronze at the European Long Course Triathlon Championships in Holland.

Three FVS TRI athletes represented GB in the championships in Almere.

Wylie came home with a magnificent bronze medal in her first appearance on the international stage, and one of only five GB age group medallists - four of whom were female.

The 4000m swim, 120k bike and 30k run long distance event was a significant step up for Wylie who normally races over the standard Olympic distance.

Kevin Smart and Gavin May fresh from their Ironman Austria success, represented the men.

Smart won over this time with a superb performance on his international debut in the 30-34 age group, placed 20th overall with a time of 7-09:19.

Veteran GB campaigner May had an uncharacteristic poor race for him with the slowest run of the FVS TRI contingent.

He will now focus on the Half Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Florida in three months' time.

Times: Penny Wylie 8-12:10, Kevin Smart 7-09:19, Gavin May 7-28:15.

Harrison won by 17 seconds at Bedford in a field described as the best yet by the race organiser.

In the lead group out of the swim, Steve was able to make ground on the bike leg entering the final transition in second place.

With a comfortable run, Steve took the lead and was never really threatened on the scenic three-lap run along the Bedford embankment.

In his final appearance for FVS TRI, Boris Chambon was fourth overall and second in the 20-24 age group, again with the fastest bike split overall.

Also leaving FVS TRI is Graham Markham, who also races for the Army, who has been posted up North.

His last local appearance saw a third place finish in the club, third in the 45-49 age group and a creditable 43rd overall.

Paula Adams continued her good form with an age group win in 35-39 and first female home for the club.

Times (1500m river swim, 40k bike, 10k run): Steve Harrison 1-56:10, Boris Chambon 1-57:58, Graham Markham 2-13:46, Nick Downing 2-18:04, James Grierson 2-18:26, John Burgess 2-19:56, Robert Wilson 2-23:20, Christopher Suckling 2-24:10, Jonathan Gillham 2-24:21, Mark Robertson 2-26:35, Simon Patenall 2-27:09, Paula Adams 2-31:08, Sean Bradley 2-31:09, David Hamill 2-31:53, Jane Chappell 2-32:14, Robin Snook 2-35:21, Jeff Ryan 2-35:59, Marc Trussell 2-36:26, Dave Coard 2-36:47, Chris Yuill 2-39:26, Michael Humphris 2-40:19, Mark Robinson 2-41:51, Edward Manson 2-42:29, Robert Bester 2-52:45, Sally Harkins 3-15:58.

In the mini triathlon, Karen Dodsworth made her triathlon debut and won the female 45-49 age group.

The shorter race was a 200m river swim, 15k bike and one-lap 3.3k run which was completed in 55:18.

P Top FVS TRI cyclist Michael Summers supported Dave Hard in his quest to earn enough points to move up to category three.

Unfortunately Dave had to retire with a puncture in the one hour plus five laps 30 mile MKCA Abbeygate Summer Series circuit race at the MK Bowl.

Michael battled on but was blocked in the bunch sprint finishing out of the points this time.

He will also be leaving FVS TRI to return to Scotland later in the year.

Husband and wife duo James and Tanya Morris-Jones competed in the Stevenage two-up time trial and finished with 33:34 for the 12-mile course.

# There was a personal best for Chris Leigh as Fairlands Valley Spartans went back on track with four running in the graded 1500m races at Watford last Wednesday evening.

Leigh took a massive 13 seconds off his previous best as he finished in 5:29.85.

Times: Steve Smithson 5:20.98, Jim Brown 5:28.47, Chris Leigh 5.29.85 pb, Paul Holgate 6:04.71.

Roger Biggs continued his quest to be the first Brit to run a marathon in all 50 American states.

His run in the Park City Marathon, Utah, on Saturday means he has completed marathons in 39 out of 50 states.

Despite the altitude, he finished 36th out of the 200 male runners and third in the 55-59 age group in a time of 3-43:43.

Park City was one of the venues for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Michaela Norton Lay (4-44:00) and Mark Sanders (5-05:59) ran the Long Ford Marathon in Ireland at the weekend.

Jim Brown ran the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5k race in Hyde Park, London, in 19:56.

Two North Herts Road Runners - Kevin Ferry (18:49) and Duncan Hooker (19:59) - ran the same race.