LOCAL triathletes competing in the World Age Group Triathlon Championships in Funchal, Madeira on Saturday returned home after a successful trip.

The Great Britain Age Group team proved the most successful on record winning an unprecedented number of medals.

The 1500m harbour was followed by a lengthy run to the transition area where the 1300 age group athletes removed their wetsuits and picked up their bikes for the 36.9K bike section.

The course took the athletes up and out of the town, along the local highway to a turn point and then back again.

It included three significant climbs and descents on the way out and the reverse on the way back and so the bike times recorded were considerably slower than normally seen over this length of course.

It was then back to the transition area to rack the bikes and out on to the flat three-lap run course around the harbour in front of some large crowds.

The weather for the race improved as the day went on and the women who started after the men had to contend with the hottest part of the day.

James Fletcher produced a superb swim in his age group race exiting in a time of 21.39. He suffered a little on the bike course but came back to finish with a good run time of 34.59.

Anthony Wilson, in the same age group race, also had a good swim but came off his bike exiting transition that obviously slowed his bike and run times somewhat.

Lee Perry, racing in the 30-34 age category, produced his customary fast finish on the run to record the second fastest split of 30.37 to gain seven places.

Phil Parsons dragged himself up to 21st place overall in his age category after exiting the swim 50th.

The story of the day belonged to wife Michelle who once again surprised her fellow competitors.

Called into the British team as a late replacement and not being a strong swimmer she slogged her way through the 1500m sea swim emerging with only five competitors behind her.

She then stormed through the bike section climbing up to 22nd place overall, courtesy of the third fastest bike split.

She then powered her way round the run course picking up another six places to finish 16th overall after a run time of 36 minutes and 11 seconds.

She was also the fifth GB athlete home in her age group out of the 18 selected.

Results - Male 20-24: Anthony Wilson (Tri UK) 2.17.49, 29th, 7th GB. 47 (10 GB) James Fletcher (Evesham SC) 2.25.39. Male 30-34: 28 (8) Lee Perry (Tri UK): 2.12.56. Male 35-39: 21 (6) Phil Parsons (Worcester Tri Club) 2.16.13. 53 (16) Kevin May (Worcester Tri Club) 2.25.40. Male 65-69: 7 (4) Les Bailey (Worcester Tri Club) 2.55.52. Female 35-39: 16 (5) Michelle Parsons (Worcester Tri Club).

Many of the triathletes will be competing next weekend at the Malvern Sprint Triathlon organised by Worcester Tri Club.

Michelle Parsons, meanwhile, will attempt to qualify for the European Duathlon Championships in a qualifying race in Swindon on the same day.