Gardner has won four world cup titles including the Xterra Saipan 2010 title

Triathlete Sam Gardner is excited at the prospect of Henley's first Iron Distance triathlon in September.

The 34-year-old from Windsor took up the triathlon in 2005 and is a British Xterra specialist, which involves trail running, mountain biking and swimming.

He told BBC Berkshire: "It's going to be super hard but as soon as I saw it on the calendar I was excited.

"It will be hilly on the Chilterns and narrow on the lanes but you can't get a more picturesque ride anywhere else."

I've never run further than a half marathon so doing a full marathon at the end of a swim and the bike is a big step British Xterra specialist Sam Gardner

The event will be based in Henley and will comprise of a 3.6km swim in the River Thames, a 180km cycle race through the Chiltern Hills and end with a 42km run on the Thames footpath.

"I'm not too worried about the bike side of things because I come from a biking background and have done plenty of 100 mile road races," he said.

"But I've never run further than a half marathon so doing a full marathon at the end of a swim and the bike is a big step."

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