TWO Westmorland quadrathletes gained success at the World Championships in Berlin.

Keith Longney, of Kendal, who is also one of Great Britain's top adventure racing competitors, represented Britain in the elite race coming seventh overall in a time of 7 hours 51 mins.

The result remains the highest-ranked position by any Brit but did not surpass his fifth position achieved in 1999 in Ibiza.

Nevertheless, he was pleased with the result in which he clocked 1hr 9mins for the 5k (3 mile) swim; 2hrs 49mins for 100k (60 mile) bike ride; 2 hrs 22 mins for the 20k kayak (12mile); 1hr 30mins for the 21k run.

Peter Hart, Ambleside, competing in his fifth World Long Distance Championship and formerly World Champion in his age group, won bronze in the vet (45 to 50) category in a time of 8hrs 46 mins.

He clocked 1hr 26mins for the 5k swim; 3hrs 3mins for the 100k bike ride; 2hrs 28mins for the 20k kayak; and 1hr 48mins for the 21k run.

Although this was well off his fastest time of 8hrs 10 min, the German race proved to be physically demanding due to the wind and the numerous laps which made for a psychologically - challenging race.

This was particularly the case in the swim and kayak where each lap required the competitors to leave the water, run up the beach around a marker and back into the water!

Temperatures of 89F the day before could have made dehydration a real issue for all athletes - thankfully on the day the temperature was in the late 70's, but the duration of the race still required careful planning of food and drink in order to ensure completion.

Longney and Hart have a few weeks to recover their next races.

Peter travels to the Czech Republic for the World Middle Distance Championship, over half the distances covered during the Germany race, where he hopes to retain the title he won last year.

Keith will be competing in the adventure races, which have escaped foot-and-mouth restrictions.