TRAVIS BRAMLEY described his fifth place finish in the men’s junior elite race at the British Duathlon Championships in Windsor as ‘a good season opener’.

The 17-year-old Ivybridge Community College pupil was making his debut at under-20 level, having dominated the youth age group last year.

Bramley won the British Triathlon Championships, the London Triathlon, the British Aquathlon Championships, the English Aquathlon Championships, the British Triathlon Festival and the British Super Series title in 2015.

But moving up an age group not only sees him compete against athletes two years older than him but also the distances of the races are much greater.

On Sunday at Windsor, the junior men’s race was double the distance of the youth event.

Bramley was on the shoulder of the leader after the 5k run, clocking 16.36 minutes and going into the first transition ranked fourth. However, he lost a bit of ground in the transition and then dropped back further during the 20k cycle. But he produced a strong 2.5km run, clocking 8.34, to work his way up to fifth and third 17/18 year-old.

Holmfirth’s Lewis Byram won the race in 56.58 seconds, with Will Crudgington second in 57.12. Bramley clocked 57.47.

Afterwards Bramley posted on social media: “Solid fifth in British Duathlon Champs. New age group (17-19) so can’t be too disappointed. Lots learnt, good season opener.”

Sunday’s duathlon was the first event in the British Junior Super Series calendar. The next event is the Sospan Sprint Triathlon in Llanelli on May 14.