WILTSHIRE'S Paralympic gold medal-winning swimmer Stephanie Millward will start the Trowbridge Hot Chilli Big T Triathlon on Monday.

The race, which is now into its fourth year and run by the town's Hot Chilli Triathlon Club, will be based at Clarendon Sports Centre, where the competitors will complete their pool swims before the bike and run sections, the latter through Southwick Country Park.

The event has teamed up with timber and building merchants Travis Perkins, who will provide logistical support on the day as well as financial support for the club's growing junior programme.

Hot Chilli head coach Richard Smith said: “In setting up this partnership, Travis Perkins have expressed a commitment to help support the development of young triathlon talent in this area.

“Last summer the club piloted a Junior Triathlon camp for children aged 8-16 and formally launched a junior section of the club in September 2016.

“In a very short period of time, this has grown to a group of some 25 juniors training together weekly, with several achieving podium finishes in early season races.

“In the last three weeks, the club has seen three athletes, Caitlin Wosika, Harry Webb and older brother Freddie Webb all selected for the National Elite Junior Super Series.

“The additional funding and support the club will receive from Travis Perkins will enable us to further develop the junior section, providing more opportunities for young aspiring triathletes.”

The first waves in Monday's triathlon go off from around 7.15am on Monday, with a strong field of talented elite and age group athletes as well as many taking part in their first triathlon.

There are likely to be some delays on Frome Road between 9am-12pm, while the event takes place, which will be managed on Frome Road at Southwick Country Park by a police-marshalled crossing point.

BIG T TRIATHLON REPORT & PICTURES IN NEXT WEEK'S WILTSHIRE TIMES