MEMBERS of Dorset Pentathletes have been busy at a number of triathlons over the last few weeks as they get ready for some big championship events that are on the horizon.

Ryan Flaherty was the only club member to tackle the tough Taunton Triathlon and he finished a creditable 22nd in his age group – it was also his first triathlon.

Tri Star 2 (TS2) athlete Jessica Hudson travelled to Cardiff to take part in the Welsh Triathlon Series.

And it proved to be a profitable journey as she clinched a fine second place in a very popular event.

The race calendar was pretty congested the weekend before last with a number of triathlons and a GB Biathle competition all held on the same day in the south of England.

George Mahon got the team off to a good start in the Faringdon Triathlon (South West Series), pushing the leaders all the way to finish third in the Tri Star 1 (TS1) race.

In the TS2 girls’ race, Alexandra Palotai-Avella racked up her second win in what was only her second triathlon, while Rosie Holland made her debut in the series and came home second.

In the boys’ race, Ryan Symington finished second after hitting the deck on the bike leg having caught a brake lever on one of the marker posts.

The Tri Star 3 (TS3) boys’ event saw some good racing from a group of youngsters who know each other well from other club events.

Harry O‘Donaghue made his 2015 race debut with a solid fourth place just behind another season debutant Alex Male. Ben Samual was second.

The series now moves on to the iconic Eton Dornay venue, the location for the rowing at London 2012, for the South West Triathlon Championships and IRC National selection race on July 5.

Some 27 Dorset Pentathletes will line up for that event and it should make for a very exciting day of racing.

The British youth and junior elite races were held at Blenheim with India Cooper completing her second series event but first super series triathlon – she finished 34th in a strong field.

As previously reported in Echosport, Portland’s Chris Perham, a long-time member of Dorset Pentathletes, won the elite men’s race, seeing off British international Mark Buckingham.

Perham is a great example of where you can get to in the senior ranks with hard work and perseverance.

In the same race, Elisabeth Hood, another athlete who has a long association with Dorset Pentathletes, was going really well until a bike issue halted her progress.

However, she is still in a strong position in the series with one win under her belt.

Daisy Davies and Luke MacPherson decided to give the race at Faringdon a miss and opted pit their wits against a strong field in a tarmac-based race in Portsmouth.

This race is used by South Central and South East regions as part of their series of events.

Davies spoiled their party by winning the TS3 race and MacPherson had a competition against tough opposition, finishing fifth.

This is a great start to the club’s first triathlon season and there are some big races coming up.

The club run regular triathlon training and for more information contact Mick Flaherty via flaherty121@aol.com