It's a case of one down, one to go for Oxford Ironman Hanno Nickau.

Last week, the Oxford Mail reported how 45-year-old Mr Nickau would be attempting to complete two Ironman triathlon events on consecutive weekends, Ironman Switzerland in Zurich last Sunday and Ironman Germany in Frankfurt this Sunday.

The races involve a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle and a 26.2-mile run and the average Ironman athlete would typically attempt only one or two a year, not two in as many weeks.

But on Sunday, Mr Nickau, a lecturer at Oxford University, successfully completed the Swiss race in a time of 11 hours 35 minutes - finishing the swim in one hour 18 minutes, the bike in five hours 39 minutes and the run in four hours 32 minutes. He is now making his way to Frankfurt and concentrating on recovering before the German race. His goal is to complete the two races in a combined time of 24 hours.

Four other Oxfordshire athletes took part in Sunday's race, painter and decorator Simon Johnson, of Kidlington, who finished in 10 hours 30 minutes; GP James McLaughlin, of Kirtlington, who crossed the line in 10 hours 39 minutes; Phil Richards, who completed the course in 11 hours 23 minutes and Emma Riggs, who finished three minutes behind him.