Forres triathlete, Fraser Cartmell began the 2008 triathlon season in good style, finishing third in this weekend's Ironman 70.3 South Africa race.
Cartmell, who finished seventh in November's Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Florida, has been based in South Africa for the past six weeks, training and acclimatising for his first full season as a full timer.
Today in East London, South Africa, the 25 year old emerged from the 1.2 miles swim in the lead and also produced the fastest time for the 13.1 mile half marathon. It was just the hilly 56 mile cycle leg that let him down.
I had the fastest swim and run splits but suffered seriously on the hilly and demanding bike course, said Cartmell, who had held a slim lead on the bike ahead of Belgian Frederick van Lierde.
South African, Raynard Tissink, reeled them both in before the half way point on the cycle leg and stayed ahead for the remainder of the race. van Lierde finished second with Cartmell came third, his time of 4 hours 10 minutes and 40 seconds some seven and a half minutes adrift of the winner.
There was far too much time lost on the bike to try and make up on the run but I started the run in fourth position and moved into third midway through the half marathon, said Cartmell.
But I am happy with the result given the calibre of the two guys in front. They are both fantastic athletes with superb results behind them.
Cartmell will stay in South Africa to train until 21 February before returning to his base of Stirling and the supporting Central Scotland Institute of Sport to plan the rest of the racing season.