Great Britain will be represented by six professional and nearly one hundred Age-Group athletes at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii on Sunday. The original home of the sport will host the best long distance athletes in the world over a 2.4mile swim, 112mile bike ride and 26.2mile run, and Britain’s Leanda Cave has the honour of starting as defending champion.

Cave pulled away in the last three miles of the marathon last year in Hawaii and won her first Ironman world title, her thrid career world title having also won the ITU world championships in 2002 and the Ironman 70.3 world championships in 2012.

In a year disrupted by illness and injury, Cave is still very much in the frame for the title. She is also part of a very strong British female line up which includes Jodie Swallow, Rachel Joyce and Liz Blatchford.

Cave commented: “It’s no secret that I have been battling an injury all year. However, this has not stopped me believing that great things can still happen.”

British record holder, Paul Amey, and Dan Hawksworth line up in the men’s race as Australia’s Pete Jacobs tries to retain his title.

In the Age-Group events Cat Faux is the fastest overall female athlete in the field having qualified in South Africa with a 9hrs 22:51 performance. She will be favourite to win the 25-29 Age-Group but will have to race well and overcome the intense heat and wind that is so well known on the Island. In all, 22 British women have qualified in Age-Groups from 18-25 up to 60-64.

The men’s Age-Group line up features 76 British athletes, including celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay in the 45-49 Age-Group.

The Ironman World Championships take place on Sunday 13 October, but with the time difference that is a Saturday evening start UK time. The Pro men’s wave starts at 5.30pm followed by the Pro women at 5.35pm. The Age-Group races start at 6pm. A live stream is available on ironmanlive.com.