Scotland top the podium at Mallory Park after a competitive afternoon of TriStar 2 & 3 racing at the Inter Regional Championships.

The event represents the peak of the competitive season for 11-14 year olds and acts as the first rung on the elite pathway ladder. 13 regions across the UK are represented, with the hope of taking away the coveted IRC title.

Third at event 12 months ago, Bethany Cook of South East stormed her way to the top of the TriStar 3 women's podium this year, clocking 27:07. Anya Maclean and Lily Scott took silver and bronze in 27:15 and 27:44, respectively.

Having pushed Cook all the way to the line Maclean from Scotland said: “It was really hard out there today and really windy on the back straight.

It’s really cool coming here (to the U20’s Festival) as a team though, getting ready together and coming in a bus and stuff. I’m looking forward to the mixed relay tomorrow as I did it at Hetton in the middle of summer and it was really fun so that should be good”

East Midlands Tom Hattee's swift transitions helped him to hold off his rivals to secure the win in the TriStar 3 men's in at time of 25:51, as Rhys Ashton (25:55) and Thomas Atkinson (26:00) applied pressure on the final laps on the run.

Hattee commented on his race "From my perspective, on the swim I was pushing it hard to come out in the top 10, didn't think I was going to get the first bike pack but I held on and got to the leader, who was one lone rider, and I just went from there and just pushed it as hard as I could especially out on the run. I just can't believe I came first, I'm gobsmacked! "

South Central region‘s Lucy Phillips (21:01) put in a strong effort on the run section to pull away and take the win after having previously finished 18th in 2017. Anwen Nesham (21:07) and Melissa Turnball (21:09) completed the podium in the tightly contested TriStar 2’s women’s race.

Phillips said: "It was really tough, when I was on the bike there was pack in front of me and I was just really determined to catch them but on the runI was just gaining people and seeing how it went and it turned out ok!

I love coming here, I came last year and so I knew what I was going to expect and the calibre of the competition."

Tom Wood (20:04) representing the East region won the closing event of the IRC programme, taking the TriStar 2 men’s title ahead of George Mahon (20:12) and Alex Robin (20:15).

Wood said:"I didn't have the best swim as I kept getting kicked and stuff but I had a good first transition and bike and as I've not been running well lately so it was good to feel good on the run too!"

Full Results

A team of up to 12 athletes competed for each of the regions, with the regions’ 10 best results culminating in their overall total to decide the British Triathlon Inter Regional Championship winner.

Scotland success saw them take the title, with Jersey and the North West Region completing the podium.

Final IRC Ranking

1. Scotland
2. Jersey
3. North West
4. South Central
5. South West
6. Yorkshire
7. South East
8. North East
9. Eastern
10. London
11. Wales
12. East Midlands
13. West Midlands