ROBIN Taylor says he is a happy man after successfully completing the gruelling Austrian Ironman.

The 53-year-old from Lexden clocked a total time of 12 hours 51 minutes 35 seconds at the event in Klagenfurt.

Taylor was 150th in the 50-54 age group on his debut appearance at the international competition.

He said: “It was a fantastic experience.

“It was very hot conditions out there and when we finished, people were collapsing around us.

“But I was really glad that I did it and everything was so well organised – we had a great time.

“Emotions were running high when I finished, especially when I saw my wife waiting for me on the roadside.”

Taylor got his Austrian Ironman challenge under way by taking part in a 2.4-mile open water swim in Lake Worthersee.

That was followed up by a demanding 112-mile bike race and then a 26.2-mile road marathon.

Taylor said: “The swim in particular was very tough and I was being punched and kicked while I was in the water.

“There were lots and lots of competitors – it should have been 3,800 metres but I ended up doing around 4,100m.

“We had to swim around the buoys but I ended up going down a funnel and it was very congested.”

Taylor, who raised money for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation at the event, now plans to take part in the Clacton Triathlon in September and next year’s London Marathon.

Hythe’s Brendan Baxter was also part of a group of seven Essex-based triathletes to battle it out in Austria.

He clocking a time of 14h 18m, finishing just seven seconds slower than his previous Ironman competition.