Otley'S Richard Allen competed in the ITU Corner Brook World Cup Triathlon in Newfoundland finishing in ninth place.

The weather for the three lap swim, six lap bike ride and four lap run was overcast and windy for the ladies, with water temperatures at 18o C, mandating the use of wetsuits.

For the men's event however, the sun came out, the wind died away and the thermometer shot up.

Nathan Richmond of New Zealand and Marko Albert of Estonia, both heading to the Olympic Games in Athens in August, moved to the front on the first lap of the swim but were not able to get away.

Levi Maxwell of Australia, making his first appearance in a World Cup event since his third place finish at the 2000 Hawaii World Cup, led the field up the big hill and onto his bike.

He tried to get away on the first lap, but Richmond, newcomer David Dellows of Australia, British team-mates Marc Jenkins and Richard Allen and a strong team from the USA got themselves organised and soon reeled Maxwell back in.

The lead group electrified the crowd with their energy and the effectiveness of their peleton. But it was the "brave-heart" like effort by Mark Fretta as he dropped Ellice and bridged the gap to the leaders on the second lap who won their hearts.

With Ellice alone in no-man's land, the strong pack led by Frederick vanLierde of Belgium took on the hunt for the leaders.

Through the third and fourth lap, the Americans worked their magic at the front, until Joe Umphenour and Mark Fretta saw a window open and they dashed through to break from the group on the fifth lap.

Although adding great excitement to the event, the rest of the group was too wily for them and by the bell lap they were all together again.

Michael Smedley and Marko Albert pulled the leaders through the final lap with Umphenour and Fretta resting their legs after their valiant effort.

Maxwell, Richmond, and Dellow were the first through the bike to run transition, with Albert, Allen, Umphenour, Kelsey out after them in that order.

Dellow moved to the front on the first lap as Richmond, Plata and Umphenour calmly pulled the two Aussies back on the first lap.

Mark Fretta moved into fifth after his incredible effort on the bike.

Top 10 Results:1, Nathan Richmond (NZ) 01:56:33; 2, Joe Umphenour (USA) 01:56:40; 3, Victor Plata (USA) 01:56:48; 4, David Dellow (Aus) 01:57:02; 5, Mark Fretta (USA) 01:57:11; 6, Levi Maxwell (Aus) 01:57:40; 7, Seth Wealing (USA) 01:57:48; 8, Marko Albert (Est) 01:58:22; 9, Richard Allen (GB) 01:59:51;10, Marc Jenkins (GB) 02:00:15.

Action continues this weekend at the Salford ITU World Cup, then on to Tiszaujvaros the weekend after.

Richard Allen, 30, came to prominence with local sports clubs swimming with Otley Swimming Club and taking part in the annual River Race.

He was also a keen cyclist and as an athlete has taken part in local events including the Chevin Chase - indeed he once took part dressed as a Christmas pudding!

Richard developed into one of Britain's top triathletes after taking up the sport in 1992. He is now a professional triathlete with 11 major sponsors backing him.

Richard, who is still single, trains for 30 hours a week and he has competed all over the world.

He was twice the World Junior silver medallist while his ninth place in the World Cup event in Newfoundland was his best so far in the series.

He had previously taken 11th place in three World Cup events in places as far apart as Hungary and Mexico.

He has been national champion on six occasions across Olympic, duathlon, sprint and long distance and is the only athlete in the UK to win all the national titles.

Richard competed in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester where he finished in 13th place.

He won the London Triathlon in 2003 but unfortunately has not fulfilled his dream of being selected in the GB team for the Olympic Games in Athens. The triathletes named are Paul Amey, Tim Don and Andrew Johns.