The second Pembrokeshire Duathlon, sponsored by Dragon LNG, took place at Neyland Yacht Club on Sunday. Organised by Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club, the event consisted of a 5k run, followed by a 22k cycle, and a final 2.5k run.

Some 100 individual competitors, and six relay teams involving 13 people, lined up at the Brunel Quay start line on a cold, but clear, Sunday morning. Amazingly only one competitor was caught out by the clocks going forward! The race was host to the Welsh Duathlon Championships, and was the first round of the Welsh Triathlon Grand Prix.

In the individual event, Richard Wilder from Les Croupier Triathlon Club took a narrow lead from the first run and out onto the bike, and despite being sent the wrong way early on in the bike leg and losing over 30 seconds, cruised to victory in a course record time of 1:02:49. He finished nearly four minutes clear of David Hannaford, of Ironhead Racing, in second place (1:06:37), and last year's runner-up Jack Loveday, of the University of Plymouth, had to settle for third in 1:07:05.

The female category was closely fought, with Lynn Green, of Pembrokeshire Tri, who was in the super veteran category, holding off Bethan Fowler by just seven seconds in a winning time of 1:15:37. Fiona Evans wasn't far back in third place, with a time of 1:17:36.

Fastest veteran was Steven Bridges, of Taff Ely, in 1:09:00, while not far ahead was first junior Luke Watson, who finished in 1:08:35. Brian Palmer, of Celtic Tri, was the first super-veteran to finish in an excellent 1:09:06. The veteran female prize went to Clare Williams, of Ingli Runners, in 1:26:03, while first super-veteran female was Karen Corcoran, of Pembrokeshire Tri, in 1:24:40.

In the relay category, Tenby Aces Debs and Steve (Debbie Phillips and Steve Lewis) were clear winners in an excellent time of 1:11:49 and they scooped the mixed category prize in the process. First female team, for the second year running, were the Tenby Tortoises (Tara Rees and Tanis Hand) in 1:20:26, while the first male relay team were the Refined Gentlemen in 1:32:50.

The fancy dress category was warmly received, and the prize was a three-way split between the young Jake Watson (Sumo Man), Jill Colman (Fairy) and Paul Colman, who many thought, quite worryingly, made a more convincing fairy than his good lady wife!

The club is very grateful to its main sponsors, Dragon LNG, and also to Pembrokeshire County Council, Triexercise (http://www.triexercise.co.uk">www.triexercise.co.uk), Enterprise Cycles (01646 601014), A&A Scaffolding (http://www.andascaffolding.com">www.andascaffolding.com), Julia Hill (http://www.yourphoto.org.uk">www.yourphoto.org.uk), and Pentlepoir Garage (01834 814749) for donating prizes and providing services free of charge.

Gwyn Phillips at Neyland Yacht Club was his usual helpful self, and provided excellent facilities, and Martin Dyde, of Pembrokeshire Harriers, helpfully marked the run course.

All proceeds from the event are being donated to Adam's Bucketful of Hope Appeal (http://www.bucketfulofhope.co.uk">www.bucketfulofhope.co.uk), and the organisers say the event alone is on course to raise around £1,500.

The event was the first in the Pembrokeshire Tri Multisport Challenge, with the Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon (July 11) and Pembrokeshire Half Marathon (September 27) completing the series. Next up, though, is the club's own super-sprint triathlon in Haverfordwest on April 26, where less than 15 places remain available.

Further details can be found on the club's web-site at http://www.pembrokeshire-tri.org.uk">www.pembrokeshire-tri.org.uk, by e-mailing [email protected]">[email protected] or telephone 0975 925365.