An seriously early start, supporting duties to Mrs Budgett and assisting Ironman Live. None of it is enough to stop Henry Budgett still managing to make time to file a live report from Ironman Lanzarote.

Baked, broiled and fried

What a mix we have had here today and what an outstanding result for the GB women. Both Bella and Bert repeated their wins and both were in excellent form but Bert pretty much collapsed in a heap at the finish having run his legs off to stay away from the chasers. Bella, on the other hand, seemed a bit off the pace on the bike but then put the hammer down and simply fried the competition.

The potential for GB success was there from the off; Stephen and Scott leading the swim and Rachel Joyce putting in a great second place with Bella just behind her. IM Live spotting duties saw us dashing round the island trying to get ahead of the bike and standing at Yaiza in light rain and watching a rainbow over the village it was Bert Jammaer and Stephen Bayliss who went past in the lead both into and out of the El Golfo loop. Rachel Joyce was already pounding away in front of the women and there she would stay until the end of the bike.

By the time we reached Teguise to catch up on the leaders Bert Jammaer was still in the lead but Ain-Alar Juhanson was moving up through with Stephan Vuckovic and Olaf Sabatschus playing in the mix as well. The big hills of Haria and Del Rio saw Bayliss slipping back into fifth and then the long run through the centre of the island saw the wind pick up and the field begin to thin.

Onto the run and it was a case of 'hare and hounds' with Jammaer burying himself to keep ahead of a rampaging Stephan Vuckovic while the tall Estonian, Ain-Alar Juhanson, looked to have overcooked the bike and faded badly. Olaf Sabatschus put in a solid run to move him up through the field into third while the early promise of Bayliss and Neyedli turned into a fifth and sixth place respectively.

For the women the end of the bike saw an almost bunch finish with Micheala Giger, Kathrin Paetzold and Hilary Biscay all closing down the gap on Joyce but it was Bayliss who made the decisive move and opened up a huge and unbridgeable gap while Joyce hung on in there as challenges came and went to collect her second podium finish of the year. At the end Giger was scant seconds behind and Paetzold was close enough to show that she's going to be a serious player in the future.

Great to see Robin Brew do so well on the bike but this was a performance that was to end as he was forced to pull out on the run with calf trouble. Also a shame to see Nick Kinsey sidelined following two days of stomach troubles after a dodgy egg. Wise decision, Nick - Austria is only six weeks away!

With the pro athletes doing their stuff on the Puerto del Carmen seafront it was time to start looking at age groupers and trying to get some pictures for the album. Edi Brocklesby was going like a train last time we saw her and seemed certain to finish, as did Morg who has finally vanquished the course here. Great performance from Jo Carritt mixing it with the pros in seventh and getting first female age grouper.

Got to go and cheer the wife home - it has been a long day!

You can see Henry's pictures (more to follow), HERE. The usual rules apply: personal use only, free to copy for club and personal sites. Originals are available from Henry by email.