Great Harwood-based Lancashire triathlete Neil Hunter won his second European Championship silver medal in a week after finishing second in his age group at the European Middle Distance Triathlon Championships in Banyoles, Spain.

The championship took place on 19 July in temperatures of 37°C after organisers considered cancelling the event because of the heat. Following a review of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), the Local Organising Committee shortened the final run from 21km to 14km as part of its heat mitigation measures.

Neil completed the race in four hours 32 minutes to secure the silver medal, finish as the first British athlete in his age group and qualify automatically for next year’s European Middle Distance Triathlon Championships.

The race followed Neil’s silver medal at the European Standard Distance Duathlon Championships in Banyoles seven days earlier. During the middle-distance event, he left the water in ninth place after the non-wetsuit 1.9km swim before recording the second-fastest bike split in his age group over the 90km course, which included repeated climbs and technical descents. He then produced the fastest run split in his age group, completing the shortened 14km course in 61 minutes.

Neil Hunter said: “To come away with two European Championship silver medals in consecutive weekends feels really special. The conditions were tough for everyone, and it was a race where you had to manage the heat as much as the course. I’m pleased with how I kept working through the race and especially with the run.”

Medical teams treated numerous athletes following the event as competitors raced in high temperatures. Neil’s performance continued a run of international success that includes European and World Championship medals, British titles and qualification for further international competition.

Neil’s race programme is supported by Blackpool-based Questa Chartered Financial Planners, which provides sponsorship towards training and travel for national and international events. The two podium finishes in Spain form part of his preparations for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, later this year.

Neil added: “The support from Questa makes it possible for me to compete internationally and I’m very grateful for that. After two hard weekends, it’s time for a short break before all the focus turns to Kona.”

Neil will now begin preparations for the Ironman World Championship in October following back-to-back European Championship podium finishes in Spain.