This year’s accolade of ‘Tenby’s fastest Ironman’ falls to none other than twenty-year-old Finn Arentz who won the ‘18-24’ age category this weekend.

After coming fourth last year, local boy Finn who lives in St Johns Hill set out with the aim of winning his age category to guarantee his place at the World Championships in Hawaii next year.

In a display of running prowess, Finn finished with seventeen minutes to spare over second place, crossing the line in a mightily impressive 10.07.46.

Finn, who took up triathlon in 2016, has now completed three consecutive Ironmans, bettering his time each year.

In 2016 he recorded an 11.28.19 which prompted him to train properly for the next one. In the wind and rain of 2017 Finn set a PB time of 11.06.50 but came fourth in the age category.

With another year of dedicated training in the legs (and impressive abstinence at University!) Finn set about winning his category in style.

Finn made his intentions clear from the beginning as he charged into the sea and set a 1.26 per 100metres pace. 55 minutes 39 seconds after the starting gun went off Finn emerged from the sea in 5th place in his category.

He later said that he ‘got on some good feet and was able to cruise around most of the course’- ‘pleased with the time’. More importantly it gave him a precious lead over his main rivals.

The bike required disciplined riding more than anything else as fellow age group competitors shot past him on the hills.

Finn stuck to his target power and followed the plan trusting in his running ability. Finn finished the bike in 5.53.29, placing him 3rd in the age group.

A lightening transition saw him jump into second allowing the real battle to begin. Finn had almost ten minutes to make up on first place Lewis Donovan. At the 10, 15 and 21 kilometre marks the gap was lessening, but not fast enough.

Then, on the third lap, the gap jumped from 6 minutes to just under 2. Finn, with steely determination, held his relentless pace and moved into first position.

An hour later he crossed the line recording a 3.11.34 marathon- the 11th fastest of the day!

Finn, after initially not believing he had won, said ‘the crowds were just phenomenal, it felt like in every corner of Pembrokeshire I could hear someone bellowing my name’. Finn (instagram: finn.arentz_tri) now looks forward to a hard year of training and preparation before racing in Hawaii alongside the best athletes triathlon has to offer.