BILL SHANKCLOTH has returned to his home in Chipping Sodbury from the European Championships in Holland with a silver medal for triathlon.

He finished second in the 65-69 age category, while Hogweed Trotter team-mate Ron White from Wotton-under-Edge also competed in Holten and finished ninth in the 55-59 category.

Shankcloth, 65, was competing in his fourth European Championships and bettered the bronze medal he won in Copenhagen two years ago.

After breaking his collarbone and dislocating his ribs in a road accident over a year ago, Shankcloth has enjoyed a good year so far having won the British Championships in Northumberland.

“I was very pleased, I have had a good year so far,” he said.

“It was excellent, really well organised and it was a good crowd.”

White recovered from a bike accident just before travelling to Holland and was pleased just to compete in his first European Championships in the end, coming home as the second British athlete overall.

He said: “I’m pleased I got round after what happened.

“I couldn’t do any training, I had to strap my arm up with cling film and duct tape which came off when I was swimming.”

He added: “It was good fun and a lovely place.”