TWO members of Harwich Runners had an early start to compete in the Gosfield Lake Standard Triathlon.

Steve Tatum and veteran Jeff Higgon were racing in the over-40 category.

Tatum, a novice at this distance, and veteran Higgon both started in the same swim wave.

In such warm water conditions, wet suits were banned.

In the melee of the mass start, they quickly lost contact with each other.

Tatum gained a two-minute lead over the 1,500m swim.

However, Higgon recovered this lead over the extremely wet 25-mile bike leg and took the lead thanks to a quick run transition. Tatum, having saved himself on the bike, soon cruised past to regain his lead over the six-mile wet and muddy run leg.

He eventually finished in a time of 2h 36m 44s and 29th in the category – three minutes in front of club-mate Higgon, who came 31st in a time of 2h 39m 37s.