IRONMAN UK took place in Bolton this weekend, completely taking over the town. Just under 2,000 competitors swam, cycled and ran their way to the finish line in Victoria Square where the crowds waited.

The event began in Pennington Flash Lake with a 2.4mile swim. Followed by a bike route taking on the winding hills, with a slight change and reduction in the course due to the recent moor fires. Finishing with a challenging marathon around the streets of Bolton and Queen’s Park.

Neil Eddy a teacher at mounts bay academy was looking to overcome the slight disappointed of narrowly missing out on the world championship qualification in Lanzarote six weeks ago.

Neil was second out of the water, on the slightly longer than stated swim, in 52 minutes and for a little time in the lead of the race overall. He followed this up with a solid bike ride of 4 hours 22 minutes, staying in the overall top 10 contention. Neil’s strength in recent years has been his run, he described the run as brutal and challenging “I wasn’t sure my Run legs were with me and thought the four lap run was going to be a struggle on lap one but I soon found my stride, my pace dropped a little at the end and I was in a world of pain as most people are at the end”.

Neil was 1st overall Age Group athlete and featured 6th overall including the professional ranks, a truly magnificent result from a dedicated and talented athlete.

“I wasn’t 100% sure how my performance was going to go, having raced an Ironman only a few weeks ago. It may go down as my best performance to date and I am over the moon with qualifying for the Hawaiian world championship race”

Neil will now concentrate on a podium finish at the world championships in Kailua-Kona Hawaii on the 13th October.

“A big thank you to my family support at the race and local support from Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding, RGB Builders, Mounts Bay Academy, At Your Pace helston, Giant helston and all the other people that support me”

Scott Markham (teacher), Paul Baker (regional executive principal) and Charlie Jameson (parent) from Gulval Primary School took on the challenge to race Ironman Uk to raise funds for a new School minibus and Cornwall air ambulance. “This once in a lifetime journey truly encapsulates the ethos and values that we as a community have built. Hopefully it will inspire our children and show them that with resilience, tenacity and an iron will to succeed, anything is possible.”

Scott Markham – 11.28

Paul Baker – 12.10

Charlie Jamieson – 10.19

Their donating page – https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/scott-markham