A HEREFORD athlete has targeted the European Duathlon Championships next year following an excellent win at Castle Combe in Wiltshire.

Jon Barnes, who runs for Cheltenham Harriers and recently won the Wye Valley Runners-organised Summer 10k Series, took part in a two mile run, a 10 mile bike ride and another two mile run.

"I am hoping to go to the European Duathlon Championships next April in my age group," said Barnes.

"My long term goal is to try and make the elite Great Britain team for duathlon over the next few years."

"I broke my foot in January, which put me out for five months, so I got into duathlon due to having only being able to cycle.

"So I'm quite new to the sport but it has been going well."

Barnes led the first run in 10 minutes 26 second to build up a 20 second lad.

He then managed to pull away on the bike and record the fastest bike split of the day in 22:18 – over a minute clear of his nearest rival.

His second run was ran in 11:03, the second fastest run of the say, to seal the victory at nearly two minutes ahead of the second-placed athlete.