SAM HERRIDGE stormed the field to win the first grand prix of her career on Sunday. Conditions were favourable for the Commonwealth Games star in the Milton Keynes Grand Prix Olympic-Distance Triathlon at Emberton Country Park near Olney and she made the most of them.

Herridge dominated the event – which comprised a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run – from start to finish and she continues to improve and move her way up the national rankings.

A fast swim time of 17min. 52sec. saw the Sarnian quickly establish a lead of over three minutes on her nearest rival and post the seventh quickest swim time out of all the 1,000 competitors, male or female.

‘They had thankfully cleared the weeds out of most of the lake, although there were still patches to struggle through which wasn’t too pleasant,’ Herridge said.

‘The swim course is a really nice one with lots of turns, which makes it really interesting as opposed to a long swim out and back.’

A quick transition saw her exit onto the bike route with a substantial lead, which she continued to build on during the undulating course, posting the second-quickest bike time out of all the 200 females competing.

‘My biking is really coming good now – I became a member of the Guernsey Velo Club earlier this year and competing in the time trials, road races and criteriums has really been a quick and valuable learning experience.’

With a split time of 1hr 06min. 38sec. for the bike leg, Herridge had established an insurmountable lead on the rest of the field coming into her weakest discipline, the run.

‘I was feeling really good and light, and coming out of transition two, felt really strong on the three-lap run course.

‘The legs felt great and a lot of that has to be thanks to the regular massage treatment I’m receiving from the Chiropractic and Massage Clinic at the moment,’ said Herridge.

A split of 39-09 for the run saw her cross the line in an overall time of 2-03-41, over a minute ahead of her nearest rival and a non-drafting personal best for the distance by a staggering eight minutes.

Having collected the first grand prix title of her triathlon career, Herridge will now go on to compete the last major race of her season in London at the beginning of August when she will race as part of a strong elite field.