Jersey Triathlon: Dan Halksworth and Jo Gorrod win new-look event

UK Ironman champion Dan Halksworth eased to a comfortable victory in the Jersey Triathlon in overcast but dry conditions at St Helier.

Halksworth was already well clear after the swim and finished in one hour, 57 minutes, 58 seconds.

Jersey's Jo Gorrod was the first woman home in two hours 27 minutes.

Organisers gave the event a new look and higher profile for 2013, with Elizabeth Castle as a backdrop and the run routed around the town centre.

"I didn't really feel like I was killing myself the whole way," Halksworth told BBC Radio Jersey.

"I actually felt quite good on the run, I'm really pleased with it.

"Coming out of the swim I was a bit overwhelmed to be honest, there was a lot of support which was great."

Tom Perchard claimed second place, more than six minutes back from Halksworth, after a race which took competitors along the island's south coast and out to St Ouen's Bay.

In the women's event, Gorrod was in front after the swim, only to be passed briefly by Sam Lee late in the 40km cycle ride, but the former Island Games representative, showed her running pedigree as she fought back to cross the line first on the Waterfront.

"I had a good swim but it was tough out there because it was very choppy," she said.

"My swimming's coming on quite well, I just need to figure out how to ride the bike. There was quite a lot of support around town so it feels like a bigger event.

"It got warm out there, even in the swim, which I wasn't expecting."