Jersey's Dan Halksworth won this year's Ironman contest in Bolton.

He finished in eight hours and 55 minutes in difficult conditions in a race which had 1,500 athletes.

Fraser Cartmell came second, completing in nine hours and seven minutes. Manchester's Paul Hawkins crossed the line in nine hours and 10 minutes

Bolton's Ironman returned for the fourth year on a day which started with a chilly two-loop swim in Pennington flash. 

 

Mr Halksworth dedicated his win to coach Jack Ralston who has been given three weeks to live.

A 14-mile ride from the swim finish followed, taking athletes to the beginning of three torturous, but scenic, loops that started from Adlington.

At the end of the 112-mile bike athletes had completed a total of 5,249ft of climbing.

The 26-mile run then began with an eight-mile point to point section before athletes pass through a canal path and turn onto a multi-lap circuit.

The highlight of the run course, the circuit provides fantastic spectator friendly viewing over the entire lap before athletes make their final turn into the finish chute and to the finish line in front of Bolton’s iconic Town Hall.