EARLY bird athletes from across England descended on a quiet Oxfordshire market town at 8am for the 17th annual Wantage Triathlon.

A total of 52 competitors, 30 from Oxfordshire, took on the 800m swim at Wantage Leisure Centre followed by a 35km bike ride and 12km run over the Ridgeway and stretching on through three counties on Sunday morning.

The event is considered one of the more beautiful triathlon courses, running alongside the picturesque Lambourn Gallops where champion racehorses are trained.

The hilly territory also makes for some dramatic cycling and a top speed of 48mph was recorded down one slope on Sunday.

The run also challenges competitors to run up a 1km hill to a height of 500ft in the fastest time possible. This year's King of the Hill achieved the feat in 5m 22s.

Competitor Suzi Pegg said: " I really enjoyed it, despite the king of the hill nearly breaking me. I wasn't even last so that was a bonus!"

Wantage Leisure Centre manager Kevin Williams, who helped co-ordinate the event, said he had received "100 per cent positive feedback", with some describing it as the "most organised in 15 years".

He added: "We had many comments on the positive attitude of the marshals on the route – especially bearing in mind it was a Sunday at 8am."