A team of Tri Lakeland athletes will be flying the flag for Great Britain at the European Triathlon Union Triathlon European Championships next week.

Barry Johnson, Rachael Vatter and Brian Payton from Eaglesfield and Amanda Ingram of South Street, Cockermouth will head out to Lisbon, Portugal for the competition which takes place between Thursday, May 26 and Sunday, May 29.

Barry, 75, is a reigning European champion and is taking part in the 75 to 79 year old male sprint.

Rachael, 18, came 10th in last year's 16 to 19 female sprint event in Geneva and will enter the same category again this year.

Amanda, 40, is taking part in the 40 to 44 year old female sprint event.

Brian, 41, is an experienced Ironman athlete and cyclist, but is taking part in the championships for the first time and is in the 40 to 44 male sprint.

Barry said: "It's a great honour and privilege. You're competing against hundreds of other people who are vying for other places.

"It's a privilege and demonstrates hard work. I don't want to get too excited because I'm defending the title."

Rachael said: "My goal last year was top ten and I was very pleased. I'm probably aiming for top five or ten again.

"I'm pretty exciting for the competition. It's definitely a big honour."

Brian said: "Every athlete wants to do it at some point in their life.

"My category is quite a tough category to be in. I'm really excited."

Amanda said: "This is the first time I've taken part. I'm really excited especially as I've reached 40.

"It's a bit of a milestone and I'm looking forward to the experience."

If the athletes win their respective races they will become a European champion for their age category.

Barry, Rachael and Amanda are taking part in sprint distance races which require them to do a 750 metre swim, a 20 kilometre bike ride and a 5 kilometre run. 

Brian is entering the standard distance category and will do a 1,500 metre swim, a 40 kilometre bike ride and a 10 kilometre run.

A prize pot of 60,000 euros, about £47,000, will be shared between the top 15 male and female elite competitors and the relay teams.