John Levison reports: At the Hillingdon Duathlon, 45 adults, and almost 90 Tristar/Youth athletes enjoyed excellent conditions. The Junior events also represented the first race of the London Region Series for 2007, which leads to qualification for the Inter-Regional Champs (IRC) for the lucky ones. The adults kicked off the morning, with a very high-class field in the mens event. Former World's Age Group medallist Mike Jubb, and current European Bronze medallist Jez Cox lead the way on the first run along with Mike Bridge. Not far behind was bike demon Dan Corner (fastest bike split at the National Duathlon Champs last weekend). He's also pretty swift in transition - on the entry to transition he was 4th, but using platform pedals, as fast as you could say "Scott Plasma" he was gone, out onto the bike first and away. Jez cycled very strongly to lose less than a minute on the bike, and that was how it finished - Corner / Cox / Jubb.

Hillingdon athlete Melissa Arkinstall was a clear leader for the ladies - until a puncture put her out, leaving Suzanne Honey first in a small ladies field. (Full results here)

Onto the main event - the kids! They start them young, with 12 entries for the Tristar 'start' division - 8 & under. Tristar 1 (9-10 ) saw triathlon's equivalent of a photo-finish, with officials unable to split James Babbington & Johnnie Pitts. Julia Hartweg was a comfortable winner for the girls. In Tristar 2 (11-12) saw the Rata family pick up the first of two wins - Emma Rata almost doing enough to win overall, only edged out by Lewis Hawkins by 4 seconds. Tristar 3 (13-14), and Scott Rata was just as convincing as his sister - a minute and a half clear of Sam Capp. The girls event was interesting - Sky Draper, a regular winner of our events, was given approval to race up an Age Group, to provide her with a tougher challenge. She coped well too, taking second place against athletes two years her senior, though she was beaten by a very strong Jessy Millican (who also beat her brother in the same race...). Deyan Knespl & Olivia Bryant took the Youth (15-16) wins. (Full results here)