FORTY-two members of a Bolton triathlon club which has only been running for two years are on their marks for the Ironman UK challenge tomorrow.

Tri-Rivington coaches have been preparing their athletes to take on the annual 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle ride and 24.2-mile run for the last nine months.

And Ray McGloin, who fulfilled a dream to coach when he set up the club in 2015, says they are all in shape for the ultimate triathlon test.

"They’ve all been working hard since September to get themselves ready," he said.

"They’ve done all the training, the dark mornings and late nights. The hardest bit is balancing work and home and they've done it.

"It's fantastic to have 42 members doing it. Last year we had 32 so to get more is great and the majority are first-timers."

McGloin is not doing tomorrow's Ironman – which is being held for the ninth year in Bolton – as he focuses on supporting his athletes.

"Most are capable of doing it under 14 hours, some under 12 and one or two around the 10-hour mark," he said.

“All I tell them is stick to their plan. Don’t race against anyone else, just keep to the plan.

"We have a saying: it’s not how fast you go, it’s how good you look on the finish line.

“Three or four could just about swim a length in September and can now swim two miles.

“Whether they finish it in long times or short times they’ll all find it just as much of a challenge. As long as they finish that’s all that matters.

"It was a dream of mine to coach and four or five years ago I decided to do it and then we started the club two years ago.

"The biggest success for me is seeing them cross the line."