All-action Halstead Road Runner Jim McTaggart shows no sign of slowing down after being crowned world aquathlon champion - in his age group.

MacTaggart, 65, has just returned from Madeira where he completed the 2.5 kilometre run, 1km swim and 2.5km run course in 45 minutes 13.6 seconds, faster than anyone else in the 65-69 year old category.

And the sprightly athlete also finished 13th in the World Triathlon Championships - for the same age group - during the ten-day trip.

It involved a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride followed by a 10km run, which he completed in three hours ten minutes 51 seconds.

Braintree-based McTaggart, who came second in the British Aquathlon Championships last year, said: "I am delighted to be world champion. I thought I had a reasonable chance in the run, swim, run event.

"On the triathlon I was more concentrating on finishing as opposed to getting a place there."

Published Thursday May 27, 2004

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