A PAIR of Hereford triathletes proved that age is just a number as they impressed at the European Age Group Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships.

After only taking up the sport three years ago due to a running injury Sandy Anning took a silver medal away from the Glasgow event while fellow Hereford Triathlon member Hilary Markland finished ninth.

Anning, who previously took silver and bronze medal for England at the Masters Cross Country Home International, has now turned her hand at triathlon to great success.

"I was a runner but had problems with my foot so I took up cycling instead five years ago," said Anning.

"I missed competing and so three years ago I joined the Hereford Triathlon Club and realised I was probably quite good for my age group so in 2016 I entered the Nottingham Triathlon and qualified for the 2017 European Championships in Düsseldorf.

"I wasn't very experienced and the event was quite over-whelming which led me to mess up the transition, anxiety took over and I couldn't find where to put my bike and I mentally wasn't prepared.

"I was so disappointed that I hadn't done what I was capable so entered more triathlons."

Anning returned this year and competed in the 65-69 age category at the European Championships last month. With younger women in her category she had hoped for a top-10 finish in Glasgow.

Athletes used the a shorter version of the televised Elite European Championships course which took place the day prior to the age group competition.

Anning was in medal contention from the start and finished the swim in a bunch of three others, chasing two leaders who had over a minute advantage.

The Dilwyn athlete was strongest in her category on the bike course and rode clear into second place and could see the leader.

On the run she maintained her position to clinch the silver medal.

In the 60-64 category fellow Hereford Triathlon competitor Markland worked her way through the field to take ninth place.

Markland was outside the top-10 following the swim but similar to her Hereford team-mate the bike was her strongest discipline and she recorded the second fastest bike time.

Despite fading on the run she finished in ninth.

Anning added: "The bike course suited both me and Hillary as it was a hilly one with technical sections which is similar to what we're used to in Herefordshire. Coming onto the run I saw the winner but I couldn't quite catch her."

With next year's European Championships taking place in Russia, Anning will instead aim to qualify for 2020 World and European Age Group Championships while also targetting National glory.