Mazda Blenheim Triathlon

Oxford Tri’s Emma-Kate Lidbury was the leading local elite performer at Blenheim Palace – finishing fifth in the women’s race.

The 29-year-old former Oxford Mail reporter was pleased with her efforts in the wet conditions as the sprint distance of 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run is shorter than she normally races.

Lidbury clocked 10mins 45secs for her swim, 33.54 for the bike and ran 22.17 to complete the event in 1.11.13.

She said: “It was good in the circumstances. I have not been able to run that much over the last few months due to injury.

“My plan was always to swim and bike well and see what happens in the run.

“To finish in the top five was good. I haven’t been training for that sort of distance.”

Lidbury started the run in sixth, but passed Carol Bridge to finish fifth.

She added: “It is always a special event as it was the first one I did four years ago. This was where it all started for me.

“There was a lot of Oxford Tri people, friends and family there to support me.

“The swim was a bit of a shocker.

“It was more of a boxing match for the first 600m.

“The bike stage was just about preservation because of the conditions.

“There were a couple of really nasty crashes in my bike pack, but I managed to avoid them.

“I was pleased to run pain-free.”

Lidbury is next in action over the Olympic distance of 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10k run at the Windsor Triathlon on Sunday.

Jodie Stimpson won the women’s event in 1.08.24, while Stuart Hayes successfully defended his men’s title in 1.01.10 after pipping top junior Jonathan Brownlee by five seconds.

Hayes said: “I’m over the moon to come to Blenheim and win here for the second year in a row.

“The Mazda Blenheim Triathlon continues to be one of the best events on the circuit and I’m looking forward to carrying this form through the rest of the season.

“Credit to Jonny Brownlee to running me very close in what was a solid battle.

“I thought he was going to catch me until I kicked in for the last 2km. When he didn’t come back I knew I had him.”

Adam Moore was Oxford Tri’s leading finisher in the men’s open race, clocking 1.12.46 for eighth place.

He was followed by Sean Nicolle (16th) in 1.14.22 and Crispin Hetherington (20th) in 1.14.51.

Oxford University defeated Cambridge in both the men’s and women’s Varsity Matches, while Worcester Warriors beat Oxford University Rugby Club in the team relay.