IRONMAN 70.3 Bolton winners celebrate as triathlon returns

The annual triathlon saw thousands of athletes pushing themselves to the limits as they swam, cycled and ran through the streets which were lined with spectators who cheered on the competitors.

The race began in the freezing water of Pennington Flash in Leigh just after 6am for a 1.2 mile swim, before cycling 56 miles through Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Horwich and Bolton and ending in a half marathon around the town centre, Queens Park and Chorley New Road.

The first athlete to cross the finish line was Levin Veale, who remarkably achieved a sub-four hour time.

Speaking after the race, Levin said it was “pretty spectacular” to win his first ever IRONMAN 70.3 and praised the support from those watching on.

AS IT HAPPENED: All the action as IRONMAN 70.3 returns to Bolton

Levin Veale was the only athlete to finish in under four hours (Image: Phil Taylor)

Levin, from Devon, said: “I’ve had a few friends say it’s a hard course but it wasn’t as bad as they made it out to be.

“I don’t think they can make the run much tougher though – running in the park is pretty horrible.

“Running up some of them ridiculously steep hills, that blew me up.”

Levin grabs some water while running through Bolton town centre (Image: Phil Taylor)

When asked about the atmosphere, he said: “It was great – there was great support out on the bike, especially around the flash.

“On the first lap on the run, I think most people were still either in bed, but when the second lap came around it was great.”

While Levin was a first-time winner, the first female to cross the line was certainly not, with Katie Walker retaining her title as the female winner in Bolton with a second consecutive win.

Elation from Katie Walker at the finish line (Image: Phil Taylor)

Speaking at the finish line, she said: “I think it actually suits me really well as a course and I think that’s why I want to come back because I like the hills.

“I honestly don’t think the main hill is that bad and I honestly enjoy going up it.

“People might say I’m crazy but I just love this course.”

Katie Walker is the back-to-back female champion in Bolton (Image: Henry Lisowski)

She also praised the Bolton crowds, saying: “The support here is always incredible, there’s nothing like it, not in any other race.”

Asked if she planned to return next year to try and defend her title again, she replied: “Maybe, I’m definitely tempted, it’s such a good race.”

Both winners recalled when they felt confident they would win their respective categories, with Levin saying: “I think it was when I got to the very top of the run on the main road [I] turned around and saw how much of a lead I still had and I was like ‘ok, I’ve got this’. I mean there was still a long way to go so I had to keep it within myself.”

Katie, from Cornwall, said: “I think when the lead opened up to like a minute-and-a-half and I just thought ‘if I at least stay at the pace I’m running then I should hopefully be able to hold them off.’”