Canterbury Harriers runner Yiannis Christodoulou was sent the wrong way at the Channel Sprint Triathlon in Folkestone but still won with a course record.

Sunday’s event was his first triathlon in nearly a year due to Covid but he raced home in first place despite being sent off course by a marshal, costing him almost a minute and a half.

He broke the course record despite the minor blip and said: “It's great to be racing again. The race let me see how I have improved over the winter. I have been sensible not to over train over lockdown and backed off training for a bit.

“I am very much looking forward to 2021 and making my debut for the GB triathlon team in my age group for the European Sprint Triathlon Championships."

Harriers’ Sammy-Jo Foster was the first lady home at the Wingham 5k, in a time of 27.03.

In the 10k event Andy Phillips ran home in in 46.25, followed by Matthew Northover in 50.32 and Andy Farrant in 54.55.

There were age group wins for Deal Tri athletes in the Channel Tri Event at Folkestone.

Andy Carson and Danny Frost both claimed firsts in the sprint distance.

Carson finished third overall, first in age, with a time of 1hr 21.06mins, completing his 750m swim in 25.29, 21.7k bike in 41.53 and 5k run in 21.40.

Frost (1:29.06) was also first in age with splits of 21.06, 40.49 and 24.48.

Neil Jenner was third in age with a time of 1:33.51.

At The Big R Swim, club member Kerry Creasy travelled to Barry Island in Wales for the Zone 3 event, completing a five mile swim in around 1hr 45min.

Six members of Deal Tri were among 186 runners at the Wingham 10 and 5k.

First home for the club over 10k was Toby Smith in 34.53, followed by first lady home for the club Eryka Smith (10th lady overall) in 51.36. Jo Donaldson took second in age with a time of 53.15. Andrew Farrant clocked 54.55 and Dave Martin 1:01.11.

Ellie Matthews ran the 5k race, finishing second lady and seventh overall from a field of 47.

Steve Wakeford completed marathon 283 by running the Black Hugin Challenge at Betteshanger in 4:48.52.

Sittingbourne Striders’ Paul Bowditch shared the course with double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee at the Helvellyn Triathlon in the Lake District.

The event, consisting of a one-mile swim in Ullswater Lake, a 38-mile bike ride, which included a 2.5-mile climb to the top of the Kirkstone Pass and then a nine-mile fell run up and down Helvellyn mountain (3,118ft), is regarded as one of the toughest triathlons in the world.

Bowditch also battled the weather, facing hailstones and torrential rain, but said: “It’s the most stunning triathlon I’ve ever completed.”

He crossed the line in 5hr 33.40mins, placing him 267th in an overall field of 370 competitors. Brownlee won the pro event in a time of 3:16.28.

Freya Jury threw a string of personal bests in the shot put event at the Dartford Open and claimed a new record for Swale Combined Athletics Club.

Jury, competing in the U17W, improved her best by 91cm, finishing second with an impressive 10.22m for a new club record.

Christine Lynch also threw in the shot put, winning the W60 category with a throw of 5.45, backing it up with another age group win in the hammer (18.64).

Richard Scoones was second in the M55 category hammer throw with 26.79.

Noah Jennings started the weekend with two personal bests, running 15.38sec in the under-13 boys’ 100m for third place and 32.96 in the 200m for the fourth fastest time in his age group.

He returned on Sunday to run his first ever 1,500m, taking fifth in the under-13 boys’ race with 6.03.43 for a third PB.

Andrew Scoones competed in his first race of the year in the senior men’s mile, front running his heat before he was just beaten to second on the final lap, finishing in a time of 4.59.11.

Christine Lynch ran her first 10km at the Folkestone Coastal event, finishing 285th in 1:11.05. Andrew Scoones ran 39.09 to take 25th spot.

The Folkestone Rotary Club will be holding their annual half marathon next Sunday.

Organisers say they are running the event compliant with UK Athletic rules and have been approved by the local authority, Folkestone & Hythe District Council.

Waves of runners, consisting of packs of 12, will be starting between 8am and 10am to keep people apart. There will be no children’s race and the town area has been removed from the route to prevent crowding.

The event, which raised over £28,000 for good causes last year, comes in the wake of the successful Folkestone Coastal 10K where two course records were smashed.

Prize money of £100 will be on offer for the winning man and woman, and there will be prizes and medals for various categories.

Entries are limited due to the restrictions and no entries are permitted on the day. The course will commence from a new start, at the Metropole on The Leas.

The main charities that this year’s event will be supporting are Folkestone Shed project and The Folkestone Rotary Club. Runners will also have the opportunity to raise money for their chosen charity.

It is possible to enter online at www.nice-work.org.uk