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Annaliese Heard, World Junior Triathlon champion, presenting prizes to the winners

Organisers, who had expected about half the number of contestants, were delighted by the turnout and impressed by the standard at the event which also featured the first Tristars and Youths Club Championships.

Competitors came from running and swimming clubs across Greater Manchester as well as schools in Little Hulton targeted by Salford Council as part of its triathlon development programme.

There were some outstanding performances in the running and swimming events although the cycling stage showed up weaknesses in most of the contestants not used to competitive cycling.

Mark Tweedie, one of the council's triathlon programme co-ordinators and youth development officer for the Manchester Triathlon Club, hopes many of the children will go on to join local clubs.

He said: "We're very pleased by the number of people taking part. Interest has doubled in the last 10 days. Some of them have come through clubs and others have come through schools.

"Most of those taking part are runners and swimmers. Cycling is a weakness. Most of them are recreational cyclists. This is an area that needs work if young people are to go on to compete seriously.

"There's a lot of work being done on this at the Manchester Velodrome so hopefully we'll see some strong competitors coming through in the next couple of years."

Further school taster events are planned at Abraham Moss Leisure Centre in Crumpsall, when the new term starts in September.

Mark looks forward to more youth competitions and hopes to see many return for the Salford Sirocco Triathlon at Irlam in October which is open to all ages.

Prizes were presented by World Junior Triathlon champion, Anneliese Heard.

Winners were
Girls 9 - 10
1 Georgina Granfield 12.10
2 Rachel Boardman 14.19
3 Nina Macarthur 15.21

Boys 9 - 10
1 Joshua Robinson 12.46
2 Scott Evans 12.50
3 Zico Toland 13.20

Girls 11 - 12
1 Samantha Wilson 20.34
2 Charlotte Granfield 21.08
3 Laura Evans 21.24

Boys 11 - 12
1 Lee Samanski 20.34
2 David Hares 20.58
3 Andrew Vickers 21.49

Girls 13 - 14
1 Henrietta Rimmer 30.57
2 Heather Jackson 31.43
3 Victoria Jarvis 32.52

Boys 13 - 14
1 Christopher Vickers 27.40
2 Mike Ashton 27.45
3 Stephen Burns 30.30

Boys 15 - 16

1 Paul Cassidy 31.40