The atmosphere was electric in Bolton town centre for the annual Ironman event as locals and family members flocked in to support the athletes. Victoria Square gave a warm welcome to the runners, who completed a marathon length swim, cycle and run.
People were there in their hundreds to support the triathletes by holding flags, donning the Union Jack and of course horns. After a triathlon more than 130 miles long, the competitors were greeted with rapturous applause and cheers.
All of them had been going for more than nine hours - a brutal slog.
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“That last three miles was torture,” Bolton lad George Martindale said after crossing the line first. “I had a terrible swim, I nearly had a panic attack and had to breaststroke for 400m and then I got on the bike and put the hammer down.
“I was confident going into the run, I had done the work and I saw the gap. I had some stomach problems but I was confident I could close the gap.
“I am absolutely delighted about this. I am from Bolton myself so that was important to me [the event being local].
“I love it here. I have got all my family and friends here.
“I literally live on the course and I work around here. So it was an absolute pleasure.
“It was absolutely amazing to share that winning moment with my girlfriend Paige - I am a lucky man. It is an absolute dream come true.”
George didn’t complete the race completely unscathed though as he got a cut on his arm following a fall during the first transition from swim to bike. He managed to soldier on though and cross the line before any other competitor.
Not so far behind him was Jack Schofield and then Daniel McParland - who George swims with regularly. They were the first three men to cross the finish line and relief was the first expression evident on their faces.
“It was relief, elation,” Daniel McParland said, speaking on his first emotions after finishing. “I just wanted to get on the podium.
“I had some stomach troubles and starting the last lap I thought I was gone. But I got some sugar in me and got going again.
“Holding on to third means everything to me. This is my fifteenth Ironman event and I have never made the podium before.
“I trained harder for this one. I have just turned 40 and thought it is now or never.
“I love this sport, I have been in it for two decades now and I have never had a day like that.
“At one point I was wobbling. You feel it in your stomach and then your pace goes.
“I knew I just needed to make it to the next station and get some sugars down me. Then half a mile later you are back up again.
“You have so many highs and lows through it. You just need to keep a cool head and not give up - and that [giving up] is very easy to do."
Daniel was leading the race for a large period but was overtaken by George and Jack on the run. All three shared an embrace upon completion.
The triathletes started in the early hours of Sunday morning (July 3) with a swim around Pennington Flash in Leigh 2.4 miles in length. Following those two laps was a 112 mile cycle up to Bolton through Wigan and around the border between Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
The final 26.2 mile run came after that. This consisted of a four-lap circuit around the central Bolton area.
The athletes were still coming in until close to midnight - with the first finisher completing the race in just over nine hours and 30 minutes.
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