International athlete Mark Lewarne is looking ahead to representing Team GB at the European Aquathlon Championships in Slovakia on Saturday.

The 31 year-old teacher from Penryn College will be joined in the Slovakian capital Bratislava by Truro based team mate David Bartlett, who was the English champion over the distance in 2015. Lewarne finished in third on that day.

Bartlett will also be in action the following weekend in a longer distance triathlon event in the same city. Lewarne will be looking to improve on a disappointing set of results over the last year.

He said: "I'm in decent shape, having been working hard in the mornings swimming and picking the pace up on the running sessions in the evenings

I drop back down to sprint distance now which relies more on speed rather then endurance, so I’ve been getting some speed into my legs over the past weeks, and I can honestly say that I am as ready as ever to push for a podium and medal again. It’s important to remain focussed.

“My aim is to be in the top five. My best ever has been fifth in the Israel euros a few years ago. It's possible to reach the podium but there is a strong field of over 30 of the best athletes from across Europe in my race and will be fighting it out to get on that podium. Every second is vital, but I couldn’t be more prepared, I’m sure the adrenaline will be pumping come race day, so we will just see what happens.”

The swim-run event takes place in the capital Bratislava with the swim of 1000m in the River Danube and then a 5km run around the flat, inner city district, which promises to be fast and furious.