A MEMBER of the Oswestry Olympians running team has recently represented the club on the international stage.

Lee Barnfield was flying the flag for the Oswestry club out in Romania as he joined the Great Britain Age Group Triathlon Team at the ETU Middle Distance European Championships.

The Oswestry man was running his 35th triathlon, but it was his debut as am international athlete.

The swim took place at Lake Bezid, a man-made reservoir 50km South-East of Targu Mures.

Water temperature was above the 24°C threshold which meant this was Lee’s first open water swim without a wetsuit.

He managed a seventh place finish in the 2,000m swim, before setting off on the bike on what was a challenging and hilly course consisting of four laps.

All was going well for Lee until the final 5K of the bike section when he picked up a puncture in his bike wheel which had to be replaced.

After finishing, he commence the running phase of the triathlon in 31°C heat.

The course offered very little shade, meaning runners had to use every feed station to drink and pour water over their heads to cool off.

A sunburnt Lee finished in 20th place and was delighted to have completed in his first event wearing the colours of Team GB.