Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire: Hundreds brave heat for big challenge - with PICTURES and VIDEO

Nearly 2,000 athletes took part in the gruelling endurance test despite the searing heat, which reached temperatures of 29C (84F), in what was to be the last time the event is based at the Shugborough Estate.

Setting off yesterday at 7am from Chasewater Country Park, those taking part had to complete a 1.2 mile swim in Chasewater's reservoir before tackling a 56-mile bike ride through Cannock Chase and up to Shugborough Hall, in Stafford, where the athletes had to complete a 13.1 mile run around the historic estate before crossing the finish line right outside the hall.

The likes of chef Gordon Ramsay and TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher have taken part in the event in recent years but there was no celebrity entrants this time around.

Instead the limelight fell on Guilio Molinari who romped home to great cheers in 4:01:10 to win Staffordshire Ironman 70.3 2017.

The Italian, who was nearly two minutes quicker than his nearest rival, was all smiles as he crossed the finish line.

He told the Express & Star: "I am really happy because I wanted to win the race.

"Staffordshire is a beautiful place. It was my first time in the UK and I think it is one of the best places to have the sport. The bike course was beautiful and there were a lot of people cheering us on and these things do not happen very often in Italy as people do not always come out to races."

France's Romain Guillaume claimed second place with a time of 4:03:01, an improvement on his third place in 2015.

He said: "I'm happy. Sometimes you know you can finish second, fifth, whatever and not have the best race but I finished second and had a good race.

"I did it in 2015 when I finished third and I am pleased to have beaten that. I did a good race Guilio was just stronger than me.

"The weather was good when two years ago it was not so god. This year was perfect. It is nice to have the crowds, especially the run as there is people everywhere."

Perhaps the star of the show however was third place Elliot Smales, from Leeds, who was competing in his first ever Ironman race.

The 22-year-old student, who has just graduated with a degree in sport and exercise science from Leeds university, trained 30 hours a week for the event.

He said: "I thought Staffordshire was fantastic. I loved the bike part, even with it being my weakest discipline. I thought the roads were mega and going through all the towns was class, I really enjoyed the bike forms. The run suited me, I like a bit of cross country running and running round the old house was cool."

"My student life is very different to most!"

The women's race was won by Lucy Gossage for the third year running. Ms Gossage, nicknamed the Duracell bunny, also broke the course record, previously held by her, by three minutes with her time of 4:28:09.

Ms Gossage, who has recently gone back to working part time as a doctor in Nottingham, said: "I am really thrilled, absolutely, over the moon. Three years in a row now I do not know what it is about this race.

"I love it in Staffordshire. The bike ride is really interesting and we always get loads of support. It was so much nicer than last year with the weather."

She fended off Nikki Bartlett, who came second with a time of 4:33:12, and Kimberley Morrison, who came third in 4:40:14.

The fastest non-pro runner was Ashley Hurdman who came sixth overall in a time of 4:10:32.

Other fast amateurs included tenth placed Brian Fogarty and 13th placed Oliver Dixon.

This is the last time the race will be held at Shugborough due to Staffordshire County Council handing over the running of the estate to the National Trust.