TAKING the heat has been a boon to a York-based group of super-fit athletes as they head into the summer season.

A party of 15 White Rose Triathlon Club members jetted off to the sun-baked Canary Isles for a training holiday on Lanzarote.

One of the biggest benefits for them was being able to put in four hours a day swimming in an Olympic-size pool. This year was the second time a group from the club have taken the chance of warm-weather training.

Now the band of multi-sports enthusiasts who combine running, swimming and cycling in triathlons, are gearing up for the club's annual Duathlon on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26.

This event involves a 10k run followed by a 45k bike ride and then a final 5k run. The starting and finishing point will be Wigginton playing fields.

"We are expecting to have about 100 entries," said club official Peter Mathieson. "This is the second year the event will be based at Wigginton. We used to have it at Stamford Bridge but outgrew that venue. Last year we had inquiries from overseas athletes."

Supported by British Sugar, the club have had prizes for the duathlon donated by several companies including Chilburne Spring Water, Cycling Weekly, Hi-Five and Halford.

There is still time to enter and all inquiries should be made via e-mail peter@whiterosetri.co.uk

Entries will be accepted on the day for anyone who hasn't yet entered. Further information is available from 01904 793187.

White Rose are keen to recruit juniors, aged 11 plus. To this end they have recently been accredited as a Clubmark registered club, which means that they meet the standards for safety and security.

"We are organising special training events involving off-road cycling, so any juniors aged 11-plus interested in giving triathlon a go are welcome to take part," said Mathieson.

"Out senior members include six who represented Great Britain in the age group squad at the World Long Course Championships in Austria."

Other members include Ironman event competitors Dot Wagstaff and John Booth, who have both qualified in the past for the world's most gruelling multi-sports competitions.

Members meet every Friday evening from swim training at Yearsley Pool from 7pm, and on Saturdays at Stamford Bridge School pool from 5pm to 6pm.

There is a monthly meeting of club members on the first Sunday of each month at British Sugar Sports Club, Plantation Drive.

White Rose member, Phil Dick comfortably won the Tadcaster Triathlon in a time of 57mins 32sec, 38secs ahead of second placed Andrew Senior.

White Rose had a good turnout of nine competitors with Peter and Paul Mathieson taking 11th and 16th places.

Updated: 11:54 Friday, May 23, 2003