Three triathletes from Banbury are to attempt one of the toughest events in their sport, the ninth Lanzarote Ironman.

Calvyn Hobday, 32, Rob Strachan, 39, and Danny Halpin, 27- members of Team Cherwell Triathlon and Multi-Sport Club - will be among 800 wetsuit clad athletes who on May 20 will descend from the beach of the holiday resort of Puerto del Carmen to begin the first discipline - a 2.4 mile swim in the Atlantic Ocean.

When the swimmers get out of the water they will quickly change and set off on their bikes to do battle with the wind, heat and the mountainous terrain over a 112-mile course.

After the cycle leg, the athletes are faced with the prospect of a 26.2 mile marathon forcing their tired limbs into running mode. For Halpin, a former badminton player and a spectator at this race last year, it will be his first triathlon - no mean undertaking.

Most budding triathletes choose to start off with a sprint distance race such as the Oxfordshire Fire Service Triathlon held at Woodgreen Leisure Centre on May 21.

Strachan has been competing in triathlons since he got bored of running marathons five years ago. After working hard on his cycling and swimming, Strachan met with success in a half-ironman race at Ironbridge in 1998. As a result he entered Lanzarote last year and completed the race in 13 hrs 36 mins.

Hobday raced his first triathlon in 1986 and has more than 70 triathlons under his belt. After being involved in a bike crash last year, Hobday still finished in 11hrs 52 mins and is looking to better his 1998 time of 11.16.