There aren’t too many athletes around who can run a marathon in three hours and three minutes – but imagine doing it straight after cycling 112 miles and that after starting the day with a 2.4 mile long open water swim.

That is exactly what Matt Nuttall managed at the Zurich Ironman Triathlon, where his aggregate time of 9 hours 43 minutes and 13 seconds won the 42-year-old an invitation to compete at the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii this October.

He was the eighth over 40 veteran to cross the finish line to win the last spot available in his age band.

Three Blackburn Harriers made the trip to Switzerland with the party being completed by Paul Guinan and Brian Fogarty, who had ‘warmed up’ by running sub 2:50 marathons at London in April, two of the three fastest times by East Lancashire runners.

Guinan, also aged 42, enjoyed possibly his best Ironman event to date, ending it with a 3:38 marathon for a total of 10:28:39.

While the experienced Guinan was in the top 50 in his class, the 27 year old Fogarty was not only competing in his first Ironman event, but it was his first triathlon over any distance.

He returned a very pleasing 11:09:51 after closing with a 3:44 marathon.

Unfortunately he has so far been deprived of a finishing time on the official website as the timing chip proved to be less durable than him.

Nuttall and Guinan have trained and raced together for many years, competing in six Ironman events together since the ‘Longest Day’ at Wolverhampton in 1997.

They have long held the ambition of competing in Hawaii, but it is a running joke between them they might be jinxed and never make it.

Due to personal circumstances Matt is unable to accept his invitation this year and he is not allowed to carry it forward another 12 months.

It follows on from a disappointment last year when he thought he had qualified at the European Championship race in Frankfurt and only learned later that he had been penalised 12 minutes for draughting (slipstreaming) on the bike.

Back in 2003, Paul had apparently qualified at Sherborne in Dorset but was subsequently disqualified for the same offence.

The UK Ironman Triathlon returns to the Bolton area for the third year on Sunday.

For the times, spectator information, and news of road closures, visit ironmanuk.com.