Shaun Jasper represents Great Britain at championships

Financial Planning Manager, Shaun Jasper competed in the Men’s 35-39 age group race at the Europe Triathlon Challenge Long Distance Championships.

The event was held in Almere, in the Netherlands.

It was the first time the 37-year-old former Dudley Town footballer has competed in the contest, alongside eight other teammates from the UK.

Shaun, who works for West Coast Partnership Development, the future operator of the new HS2 railway, said: “This is a dream come true because when I started competing in triathlon, wearing the Great Britain top at this competition was my goal.

"I'm delighted to have achieved a time under 10 hours for the first time, however I believe that I can go faster and am relishing the next challenge already.

“I’ve always been an active person, and I feel that triathlon helps me exercise whilst keeping a work-life balance – which is extremely important.

"The sport gives me a variety as I have to swim, cycle and run, and I get to fit training for each aspect around my diary."

Top triathlete Shaun Jasper (Image: Handout)

The event is the second oldest triathlon competition in the world – behind Hawaii, and boasts many race categories for athletes ranging from elite level to open entry.

Shaun's long-distance race consisted of a 3.8km open water swim, a 180km cycle around the Flevoland region – where Almere is situated, and a 42.2km run through the city itself.

Shaun finished 16th, with a personal best time of nine hours and 43 minutes, which is nearly an hour quicker than his previous record.

This result qualifies him for both the Long Distance Triathlon World Championships and this same competition next year.

Shaun has been competing in triathlons since 2017, when he attempted his first one for charity.

When he is not writing financial reports for his firm, he completes in at least five competitions every year and is a member his local club in Halesowen.