A BAE worker has added to his long list of racing achievements by winning the Ironman Portugal.

Fraser Minnican, who is an engineer for BAE in Barrow, took part in the gruelling fitness challenge which saw him swim, cycle and run to victory.

(Image: Fraser Minnican) He won the race, which includes a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and a marathon run, to finish with a time of 8.21.24.

Fraser said the swim went well.

He said: “I am fortunate coming from a swimming background that I can relax and swim a relatively fast time for the effort.”

During the riding section, he stuck to his race strategy and said the highlight was cycling around the Estoril Formula One track.

(Image: Fraser Minnican) The run took place over three loops and Fraser was able to maintain a large enough lead that he could relax and soak up the atmosphere as he crossed the finish line.

When he realised he had won, with over four minutes between him and second place, he was ‘well chuffed’.

(Image: Fraser Minnican) “There was a lot of relief, a lot of people have got me to the point that I can perform like this -the support of my amazing wife, my family, coach and friends and local support from RideBikes in Ulverston and KendalMintCo," he said.

In the past Fraser has competed in several competitions, winning many and even setting several course records.

(Image: Fraser Minnican) After taking part in Ironman UK 2021, he placed first and set a course record at both Outlaw X 2021 and Lakesman Half 2022, then won Ironman Lanzarote 2023 and Ironman 70.3 Mallorca 2024.

Fraser also travelled to Germany for Challenge Roth 2024 and broke the British record for non-professionals.

(Image: Fraser Minnican) The sporting enthusiast crossed the finish line of the Ironman World Championships Hawaii 2022 alongside his wife Lauren as part of their honeymoon.

“I trained for Portugal for the best part of 12 months straight,” Fraser said. “The race was difficult, but I went into it feeling confident after working with my coach, Joel Jameson (Kendal) and with my training partner Grant Johnson (Barrow).”

(Image: Fraser Minnican) Fraser has already entered the Challenge Championship race held in Samorin, Slovakia, next May.

He said: “I am also using it as an opportunity to bike and run in different countries and places I wouldn't have visited so I am trying to not do the same race twice."