JAMES Fletcher and Adrian Mayhew, under the guidance of new coach Eddie Fletcher, kicked off their triathlon season at the inaugural Blenheim Palace Sprint event.

Sunny skies and brisk 14 degree waters greeted all 2,500 competitors. Fletcher was first off and led out the swim emerging second in his heat with a split of just over 11 minutes.

There was then a sharp 400m run uphill to the bike transition area followed and a tight technical and undulating three-lap bike course.

With large numbers of athletes on the course it proved hard to find a rhythm but a bike split of 35 minutes moved the Vale man well up the field.

The two-lap run was rhythm sapping but Fletcher ran in with a split of 21 minutes for second in his heat and 18th overall.

Mayhew kicked off his heat that included some international triathletes. He swam a strong swim leg and came out of the water just behind the leaders in just over 11 minutes.

The tight and technical bike course was to his liking as his split of 34.30 proved and he finished the race off with a solid 22-minute run to finish 21st overall.

The pair will continue their preparation for the first World Age Group Triathlon Championship qualifying event at Shropshire on June 12 in their bid to qualify for the Championships in Honolulu in October.