AFTER two-years of anticipation, more than 1,500 athletes and thousands of supporters descended on Weymouth as the fifth edition of the sold-out Ironman 70.3 triathlon returned.

On a beautiful morning on Weymouth beach, athletes began the 1.2-mile swim in the Bay which was followed by a 56-mile bike route which took them up to King's Stag in north Dorset and back to Weymouth via the Old Sherborne Road and Dorchester. Finally, athletes put on their running shoes and took on a two-and-a-half lap 21.1km run course along the beachfront and Esplanade before finishing at Weymouth Pavilion.

See a full report and reaction in tomorrow's Echo.

All pictures by Graham Hunt Photography