IRONMAN UK winner Dan Halksworth dedicated his maiden victory to former coach Jack Ralston, who is battling a terminal blood disease.

The 26-year-old Jerseybased athlete endured a titanic battle with 2010 champion Fraser Cartmell before eventually pulling away in the run to win in a time of 8hrs 55mins 11secs.

It was with tears in his eyes that the emotionallydrained winner spoke of his inspirational mentor after crossing the finish line in a surprise first place.

“I really didn’t expect to win it today, but I was desperate to get on the podium because I wanted to dedicate it to Jack because he’s only got weeks to live,” said Halksworth.

“His main thing he used to say to me was ‘believe in yourself’ and the whole of that last part of the run was about me believing in myself.

“I just really really wanted to dedicate a win to him because that’s my first win.”

Ralston, from New Zealand, coached former Olympic triathlon champion Hamish Carter and oversaw the early part of Halksworth’s career, before he first contracted the illness two years ago.

“Jack had a bone marrow transplant and was very sick, but we thought he had the all clear,” said the Ironman champion.

“Then, a couple of weeks ago, the blood disease came back. It’s not treatable unfortunately so he’s been given between three weeks and six months to live.”

It was Halksworth’s first win in only his second full Ironman, and he had to do it the hard way, pulling back a 40-second gap on the road after Cartmell looked to be running towards his second Ironman UK victory.

“Once Fraser was ahead of me I didn’t think I was going to beat him,” said Halksworth. “He’s a top quality athlete, he’s won this race before and I really didn’t expect to win.

“Once he was in front I was just trying to catch him, but I couldn’t, and then when I caught him I thought I’d gone too early.”

Cartmell, who clocked 9:07:00, was gracious in defeat.

“He was racing for his coach and that’s touching, a very deserving winner.

He had a great race and I’m pleased for him,” said the 30-year-old Stirling-based athlete and 2010 winner.

“I had a real struggle in the middle section of the run. I didn’t think I was going to finish at one point.

“I was feeling sick and being sick, that’s par for the course for long distance races.

“You win some, you lose some and I definitely feel like I won today because it would have been easier to stop. Although I came here hoping to do what I did two years ago, I’m very happy with second.”