A BOLTON triathlon club sent 14 men set off to take on the Snowman Triathlon.

The event is an annual battle of triathlon’s tough guys and girls set in the beautiful but unforgiving Welsh countryside.

It combines a 750m swim in icy waters, a 69K bike ride through the see-sawing mountain roads around Snowdonia and finishing off with a brutal 9k run to the summit of Moel Siabod before clattering back into town, all done against the clock.

Team Deane is a grassroots triathlon club from Bolton that has been taking the triathlon world by storm since being formed less than a year ago by five-time UK Ironman finisher Chris Brady.

Scott Lowe, member, said: "The club has an inclusive and family focus at its heart, and it encourages children and parents, male and female alike, to get involved, get fit and get into triathlon for a life changing experience.

"It has brought families, friends and newbies together into a shared community where triathlon has brought amazing challenges and incredible achievements, fostered loving support and given people memories to treasure."

Team Deane had the largest club presence in the competition, reflected in its supporting party being the noisiest and most excited by far.

After 4 hours and 12 minutes of toil the race-weary men started to arrive back down the wet mountain, led in by Russell Brooks in a phenomenal time that put him 17th in his age category. Other Team Deaners steamed in behind him with two first timers – Daniel Knight and Neil Gallagher – thundering in from the woods like they were ready to go again, posting respectable times that will keep the old timers on their triathlon toes.

Over the next 50 minutes the rest of the group staggered in, battered by the 2.8 mile near vertical ascent to the wet windy summit and the breakneck return over rock, gravel and mud.

Among the Team Deane Triathletes were: Chris Brady, Russell Brooks, Gary Markland, Ben Hardman, ‘Fuddles’, David Wallis, Stuart Jones, Russell Fay, Daniel Knight, Michael Sweeney, Lee Jones, Ryan Greer, Neil Gallagher, Scott Lowe.