Perfect weather greeted a full field for the triathlon, and accompanying duathlon event over the 600m swim, 6km run, 25km bike course this morning. The field was boosted, in both quantity and quality, by the race forming the latest round of the popular Triathlon London League. SLH Harriers, Optima Racing Team, Serpentine and Ful-On Tri were out in numbers, alongside the large numbers of promoting club Hillingdon Triathletes.

Matt Molloy (Team Herbalife), clear winner of the previous Hillingdon race two weeks ago was back, and headed the field on the swim leg. Some rather dubious sighting on the return to shore cost him some time however, and his lead over Euan Lees, Ful-On Tri, (recent overall age group winner at Windsor), was marginal. In the chase pack with Euan was Jenny Shorrocks (Hillingdon Triathletes) and Mark Anley (Optima Racing Team). Jenny had almost two minutes advantage on the swim from 2007 World Age Group Champion Ruth Hutton (SLH), Edwina Carter, Windsor winner (Optima Racing) and Karen Alexsdottir, also Optima.

Onto the run, and little change for the men, as Matt and Euan both reached T2 together with a comfortable lead over their chasers. A swift transition and Matt hit the road first. Behind, George Stewart (Hillingdon Triathletes) scorched through the field with the fastest run of the day, to make up for a poor swim. For the ladies, Jenny, fresh from a 10km PB last weekend, held onto her lead from the swim and started the bike over two minutes clear of Edwina, Ruth and Karen but would it be enough?

Matt and Euan battled closely throughout the tough two-lap bike course, and it was only on the last descent when course knowledge allowed Matt to push hard out of Harefield village and keep sprinting for the line. Unlike the two-minute gap two weeks ago, he won by just three seconds today. It was even closer behind, as clubmates George Stewart and Clark Schofield recorded the same time, with George getting the judges verdict for third place. Fourth today was enough for Clark to win the Series however.

It was all change in the ladies race on the bike. Despite riding almost two minutes quicker than race two, Jenny was overtaken by the cycling prowess of her chasers. Ruth, who won this event last season eventually secured the win, 23 seconds ahead of Edwina with Karen third.

In the Duathlon event run alongside the tri, Jez Coz (Team Bike & Run) took the win (1:10:40) over Nick Shasha (1:04:36).

The morning finished with the traditional free doughnuts and drinks, and the completion of another series of racing which has now run continuously since 1987 and will be back again next season.

Check out the image gallery link at the top of the page.

Full results are available on site for the triathlon and the duathlon.