JUNIOR Tom Watts showed the seniors a trick or two as he won Worcester Triathlon Club’s annual sprint distance competition.

Watts finished more than three minutes clear of the second-placed finisher in a time of one hour 16 minutes 59 seconds.

He exited the water at Top Barn Activity Centre, Holt Heath, in an impressive 9.07 swim time which was two minutes swifter than the next athlete.

The Worcester competitor said: “It means a lot to me to win at one of my home events after being close in the past two years.”

There was also a city success in the double-sprint distance event with Michelle Parsons finishing fastest female in 2.50.32 and eighth overall in a strong field.

On one of the hottest days of the year so far, 195 competitors took part.

The sprint distance triathlon consisted of a 750-metre swim, 28-kilometre bike ride and a 5km run.

The longer double-sprint distance option was made up of a 1,500m swim, 56km bike ride and 10km run.

Many Worcester members raced, as well as organising and marshalling the event.

Watts’ result continued an excellent season so far which saw him grab fifth junior spot at the National Duathlon Championships.

He also completed his first Olympic distance event racing in an elite international field at the European Cup in Strathclyde, ending up 30th overall in searing heat.

Watts also took bronze for the junior division at Blenheim Triathlon and races in the next round of the European Cup in Geneva, Switzerland, in August.

Parsons was delighted with her bike time which was the fastest female effort by almost five minutes and was bettered by only four males.

She will hope to utilise this form in the National 100-mile Cycling Time Trial on Sunday.

She then competes in the Ironman race in Switzerland on Sunday, July 25.

Worcester’s Kevin May, Henry Walker and Mark Howe all finished the double course in three hours or better.

In both events, there were a number of novice club members racing for the first time and all completed their first triathlon.

Ellen Winter posted a creditable 1.45 on her debut.

Athletes came from as far afield as London and Portsmouth to compete.

The club’s next event is the Droitwich Sprint Triathlon on Sunday, August 1, which consists of a 400m pool swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run.

Worcester positions and times, sprint triathlon: 1 Watts 1.16.59, 7 Neil Crump 1.24.49, 25 Gavin Vickers 1.32.12, 34 Ed Hardy 1.36.09, 39 Tony Knight 1.37.53, 63 Ellen Winter 1.45.25, 80 Ben Martin 1.52, 83 Alison Dunn 1.53.09, 90 Andrew Muir 1.57.08; double sprint triathlon: 7 May 2.47.24, 8 Parsons 2.50.32, 12 Walker 2.54.11, 20 Howe 3.00.13, 31 Mark Elliott 3.09.07, 33 Steve Poulton 3.11.59.