IT WAS an early start for hundreds of competitors in the Bustinskin half-iron distance triathlon, the first of three races held, starting at Greenhill.

With near perfect conditions, the first swim wave started at 7am for their 1.9km leg out into Weymouth Bay and back.

With minimal waves, the leaders soon gapped the rest of the field, with first male, Daniel Whaites, finishing the section after 29 minutes 17 seconds.

The first female out of the water was local athlete, Sally Way, at 35:25.

The quick transition was held in the Greenhill tennis courts, where the half-distance competitors then faced a 90km cycle out through Littlemoor, up the Ridgeway and then on past Athelhampton. They then skirted past Bovington Camp, and Monkey World on their way to Wareham where they finally turned for home along the A352 back towards Weymouth.

With the half-distance athletes all completing their swim, the Classic distance competitors started their 1.5m swim again out into the bay.

With the weather still holding off, but with a slight wind developing, the swim was led by local GB age group athlete, Luke Voss.

Finishing in 21:21, Voss had a 1:30-minute lead over his nearest rival before setting out on the Classic cycle route.

This 37.6km dash out to Burton Cross roundabout near Wool was set to be a fast-paced affair.

The first classic female at transition one was Begoña Tomas Navarro, in a time of 27:51.

With the last of the Classic athletes out of the water and on to their bikes, the final sprint competitors started their 750m swim.

Fast times ensued and the leading male out of the water was a local Bustinskin athlete Matt Papa, very quickly followed by first female, Ashia Fenwick representing Bath University, 20 seconds later.

The sprint cycle course was a very simple 20km race to the Warmwell roundabout and back.

At this point, cyclists from the Classic race were starting to return, with first swimmer Voss suffering mechanical problems and being overtaken by BustinSkin Triathlon Club athletes Tom Carter, Nick Ireland and Matt White.

In the female Classic category, the lead had swapped to Lisa Roberts.

The Classic riders were then off and away on their 10km, two lap run around Lodmoor Country Park, with the finish for all three events being outside the sports centre at Weymouth College.

With the sprint riders now returning back, the leading male and female competitors hadn’t changed with Papa just holding of Fenwick for the overall race lead.

The sprint runners set off on their single five-kilometre lap around Lodmoor.

First of the half distance athletes started to arrive back from their 90km cycle, with GB and Bustinskin athlete Giles Heaman taking a commanding lead with an average speed of 36.7km/h.

The first female athlete back from the cycle was Bryony Cameron-Smith.

The half-distance run route was then a 21km, two-lap course taking in Preston, Littlemoor, Broadwey and Lodmoor.

The first of the sprint athletes arrived at the finishing line at Weymouth College, with Papa beating Fenwick, first female, to claim overall winner in a time of 1:9:19.

The Classic event finishers were next to arrive at the college, with first male and overall winner, Jon Alexander from the Optima Racing team narrowly beating Carter after a very quick 10km run.

In the Classic female event, Parris Williams from Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club came home in a time of 2:26:39, followed by Lisa Roberts and Ann Marsh.

In the half-distance, frontrunner Heaman kept his commanding bike leg lead and finished in a time of 4:30:37, to take his first half-distance victory.

The female half was won by Bryony Cameron-Smith, from Farnham Triathlon Club in a time of 5:10:53.