FOURTEEN years after his last attempt at a monster 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle and 26.2-mile marathon course, Ironman competitor Anthony Smith has completed another – and he has finished it just outside his PB.

Jersey Tri Club member Smith completed this weekend’s Ironman course in Busselton, Western Australia in 11 hr 20 min, just shy of his 11 hr 8 min PB, and not far off his sub-11 hour ambition. However, he said that his biggest accomplishment was making it to the end of the race.

He says: ‘Overall the times weren’t bad, but the major thing is that I finished it, and I managed a sprint finish from the 150 metre mark. I actually did not feel much pain, and my legs held up pretty well, but when I got to the third and final lap of the marathon course that’s when it started getting tough.

‘Even when you get to the last 5 km, it’s not a dead cert that you’ll make it to the end! Luckily I’d walked through some of the earlier feed stations so I managed to keep going, and when it came to the last 2km I knew I had it in me. I was aiming for a four hour marathon, and I did it in 4 hr 36 min, so I didn’t quite pull it off, but it’s just great to know that I finished it. I’ve only been back in the sport for three years so I’m really pleased with that.’