Wistaston teenager scoops medal at European Triathlon Championships

A teenager from Wistaston near Nantwich has scooped a silver medal at the European Triathlon Championships in Turkey.

James Briscoe, 19, came runner up in the men’s under 20s class, with a time of two hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds.

James, who recently competed in the Nantwich Cheshire Triathlon, finished just six minutes behind the winner, fellow Brit Patrick Cutmore, at the event in Alanya.

The former Malbank School pupil competed in the Olympic distance event which includes a 1,500-metre swim, a 40km bike ride, and 10km run.

And the result is even more impressive after the youngster missed much of the competitive season through injury.

And he recorded a personal best in the bike section of the race.

James, who studies Chemistry at Bangor University, told Nantwichnews: “It was a tough race as the weather was in the 30s throughout and there was no wind to accompany the heat to cool you down.

“I had a fairly good build up to the race and had raced a few times previously this year at BUCS and Nantwich along with some cycle races at the start of the season.

“I was hoping to retain my title this year but I was apprehensive as I had been out injured from running for so long.

“The swim was perfect for me, flat sea and to warm for a wet-suit which played to my advantage as a swimmer, I was first in my age group out of the the water and sixth overall.

“The bike course was four laps, half of which was over cobbled road making it tough to maintain speed. I still managed to put in my best time ever on the bike but was overtaken two laps in.

“I had two minutes to make up on the run. I had managed to eat into the lead, but from lack of being able to train from injury and the heat I didn’t manage to keep up the pace.

“I was fairly happy with my result as it was another podium pace and one of my best times despite the conditions.”

Briscoe’s next race is the Llandudno standard distance triathlon.

And the bigger tests come at the London Virgin Active Junior Elite Triathlon in July and The World Championships in London in September.