Treble the effort as kids show steel

KIDS Of Steel, Britain's biggest-ever sporting event for school children, got off to a flying start in Scunthorpe yesterday.

For the third successive year, the junior triathlon challenge was sponsored by the Corus steel company.

But this year the event had to be spread over two days after the Scunthorpe leg attracted a record number of 1,400 entries.

Yesterday 900 children aged, between eight and 11 years old, were put through their paces at swimming, running and cycling.

More than 500 11 to 16-year-olds will take part today.

Yesterday, young competitors had to complete a 60-metre swim, a 900-metre cycle ride and a 500-metre run on the twin sites at the town's Riddings Pool and Melior College's south site.

They were joined on the starting lines by Scunthorpe MP Elliot Morley and Corus site director Sean Lyons, who said: "Corus has continued to support triathlon through its corporate partnership with the British Triathlon Federation to help develop athletes from the grassroots level to world champions.

"We also welcome the support this year from the Humber School Sports Partnerships, which have decided to extend the event to two days to give older children the chance to compete in the UK's fastest growing sport.

"Who knows, with the London 2012 Olympics only a few years away there may even be a few future Olympians among those taking part?"

For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.