THE 2026 season keeps on getting better for Monmouth Triathlon Club member Jak Smith, who has clinched a spot on the British team for next year’s European Standard Distance Championships in Austria.

Jak secured his slot with a blistering time of 2 hours 8 minutes and 29 seconds at this month’s Southport Triathlon.

Claire Jackson also continued her impressive start to the season with the notoriously challenging Storm the Castle duathlon.

Starting and finishing at Ludlow Castle, the race included a 10km run, followed by a 33km ride and another 5km run.

The runs are hilly, while the ride tests competitors on the undulating Herefordshire countryside.

But Claire smashed her race, coming fifth fastest woman with a finish time of 2.27.20.

In the Cotswolds, Dan Beard took on his second triathlon at the Cotswolds Lake 62 Spring Events sprint near Cirencester.

Building on his first triathlon in Lydney last month, Dan snipped minutes off his previous timings, with just over 19 minutes in the 750m swim, 44.33 for the 22km bike and a faster time of 42 minutes in the 6km run, making a finish time of 1.55.27.