Cornish Team GB athlete and Penryn College Teacher Mark Lewarne, from Redruth, is gearing up for the 2014 season with the support of local businessman and fellow triathlete, Mark Thomas, of Thomas Auto Tec, based in Connor Downs, near Hayle.

Lewarne, is looking ahead to the World Championships in September, with the long term aim of gaining selection for the UK team.

He said: “It's great to have a local sponsor come on board for 2014. I don’t think people realise how much athletes are hit financially during the season, with all the travelling commitments, for example, it’s nice to know that there are companies out there willing to help.”

Lewarne will be working alongside Portreath Surf Lifesaving Club this season, a decade after he was crowned European Champion as a junior.

“I'm really looking forward to going back to where my sporting career began,” he said. “In terms of the competitive opportunities surf lifesaving offers a whole new group of challenges, and with the world championships in September there is certainly something to give back to my local club.

“Training is going well and I'm keeping fit and injury-free, which is the main thing at this stage.
“I’ve got a few warm-up races coming up and competing in the Cornwall/Devon League for Swimming gives me an opportunity to keep things fresh and blow some of the cobwebs away for the coming year.”

Lewarne, who was victorious in last year's Abu Dhabi YAS triathlon and placed second in the Dubai Triathlon Series, will be looking ahead to a return next year for another crack at the title.

Mark Thomas, managing director of sponsors Thomas Auto Tec, said: “Anything we can do as a business is obviously going to help, and it’s an honour to be supporting one of Cornwall’s top athletes to success in 2014!”