MORE than 4,000 triathletes braved the heat to swim, cycle and run around Blenheim Palace for its third triathlon.

Temperatures hit upwards of 23 degrees on Saturday and 24 on Sunday, and about 10,000 people made the most of the weather, packing out the park to watch the events, which, notwithstanding the odd scrape, took place without any serious injury.

Among the first-timers competing over the 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run was Ingrid Ridley, from Ascott-under-Wychwood, who was inspired to take part by her daughter Elysia, who came ninth in the women's elite race.

Just before jumping into the lake for the swim, Mrs Ridley, 44, said: "I am excited but I'm also very nervous."

Twenty-year-old Elysia Ridley, who trains with the Witney Road Runners, said she found the race, her first elite competition, a struggle.

She said: "I was in so much pain. I was really struggling in the heat."

David Wells, 41, from Thame, was taking part in his first triathlon, and described the experience as "great".

He said: "It was really hard work - but good fun. It was very hot, so the run was a real struggle and surviving the swim was a killer.

"The lake was pretty cold but in a way it was quite refreshing."

David Jenkins, 47, from Wallingford, was also taking part for the first time and said he hoped to take part again next year.

He said: "The swim was a bit daunting, with so many people splashing around, but once that was out of the way it wasn't too bad.

"It's a lovely setting and very well organised considering there are so many people taking part and so many spectators."

Russ Foxwell, 38, from Chinnor, said: "I found it great fun. I would do it here again because it's beautiful. The setting is absolutely stunning.

"It was harder than I thought because it was quite hot but I'll be back again."

Four mums from Woodstock, Tina Threipland, Helen Belmont, Vanessa Sadler and Emma Hall were all taking part for the first time.

Mrs Hall said: "We live in the village and we've always wanted to swim in the lake and cycle around the park - although not necessarily in these circumstances!"

Tina's husband, Tim, had just finished taking part in his first attempt and managed to complete the course in just over an hour.

The spectators were full of praise for the location, a World Heritage site.

Chris Miller, from Marsh Gibbon, near Bicester, who was watching his fiancée, Cass Talbot, taking part, said: "It's a fantastic day out. I hope everyone achieved their own target."

Dudley Grimwood, of Clifton Hampden, who was cheering on his wife, said: "It's been fantastic."

A 40-strong team of Oxford University students were all taking part. Incoming triathlon club president Geoff Loomer said the team had a good day.

He said: "I think we've done really well. It's a beautiful day and we all got round, some very fast.

"It's my first time at Blenheim and the biggest triathlon I've ever done in terms of participants. It's great, with beautiful weather. I'll be back next year."

International triathlete and TheOxford Times reporter Emma-Kate Lidbury crossed the line in seventh place in her first elite race, and said conditions were "extremely hard".

She said: "It could have been better. It's a lovely place to race and it's where I did my first triathlon two years ago, so to come back two years later and race with the elites is pretty special, but it has been hard."

Dan Geneen, a spokesman for the triathlon organisers, said: "There was a lot of logistics involved and a lot of planning, but it's all worked out really well.

"In comparison to last year, when it was rather wet, this year was a pleasant surprise - and we had so much water and liquid out there, the heat wasn't an issue for any of the triathletes."