A CHALLENGING off-road course at Kings Wood at Challock attracted competitors from as far away as the Czech Republic and Cambridge to Ashford Tri Club's first multi-sport event.

The first run section of the race, staged on Sunday, started at a blistering pace as competitors ran along hard forest tracks.

As the route ventured into the trees, the muddy paths proved more arduous, as runners fought for traction underfoot.

Appearing out of the wood in first place was the runner for relay team Morris/Ellis.

Hot on his tail was Chris Neale from Larkfield AC, Activ’s Justin Mills and Czech triathlete Jan Popisil.

Leading out the ladies was Deal Tri’s Mo Ovenden, who had a superb first run, giving her almost a two-minute lead over 2nd lady Tabitha Rendall, from Larkfield AC.

However, the mountain bike skills of Rendall allowed her to catch her rival to take on the lead.

A little further down the field, Anne Poole from Larkfield AC and Alison Stagg form Deal Tri were battling it out in the veteran category. Mere seconds split the two riders, as they played cat and mouse, jostling for first place.

Meanwhile, back in the men’s race, the overall favourite Neale, suffered mechanical problems on the bike and had to resort to carrying his bike to finish lap one. Swapping bikes, he was able to continue, hot on the tail of his nearest rivals Mills and Deal Tri’s Bryan May.

The hilly sections of the course saw some competitors coming to a complete standstill, having to resort to pushing their bikes to the top. While the fast downhill sections produced some thrills and spills on the sharp bends and slippery muddy sections.

Onto the final run, competition was fierce with the relay guys. Team Walker/Hibbard, Team Morris/Ellis and Team Sutton/Jones were ready to battle it out on the last lap.

With over a two minute lead going out on the run Team Walker/Hibbard led all the way taking a comfortable win and first team prize.

In the men’s individual race, Mills set off on the run with a good lead over Neale and Larkfield AC’s Matt Hughes, which he maintained to the finish to take 1st place overall. In the veteran category, Bryan May took 1st place.

Back to the ladies race, and the competition was hotting up. Ovenden’s super fast run allowed her to overtake Rendall to take a comfortable 1st place.

Meanwhile the lady veterans were only seconds apart going into the run, but Poole’s strong run gave her the edge, taking over a minute from Stagg to claim the 1st lady vet prize.

Race Organiser Nicki Barron, from Ashford Tri Club, said: "The duathlon has been very successful and was great fun for both competitor and spectator will all the thrills and spills during the bike section.

Due to the popularity of this race, Ashford Tri Club plan to hold more races in Kings Wood in the future, with an off road run in September and the Mountain Bike Duathlon again next year".

More details of these races can be found on the Ashford Tri Club website www.ashfordtriclub.co.uk