MORE than two dozen members of a Weymouth triathlon group will take on an international challenge this summer.

The BustinSkin group will send 25 of its members to the Ironman 70.3 event in Vichy, France on Saturday, August 27.

BustinSkin will have the most participants in the race of any triathlon group in the world, with the closest competition sending only eight athletes.

The club started in 2007 and has already produced a number of world champions and athletes who have represented Great Britain in competition.

Club founder and joint director Mark Steen said: "To have so many athletes willing to travel around the world to represent us and race in these prestigious races is a tribute to how these athletes regard the club.

"We have almost doubled our membership in recent years and now have over 200 members, in Weymouth and further afield.

"The club has a great ethos and is well respected in the UK as one of the top achieving clubs at many races here and abroad."

Members of BustinSkin will travel to countries including Austria and Poland to compete in a number of ironman and triathlon challenges.

Club member Linda Ashmore will compete in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in the 70-74 age group.

At last year's championships, she finished third in the 65-69 category.

Cormac Linehan, who runs a pet shop in Weymouth, said he enjoys the team atmosphere of the club.

He said: "Being a part of BustinSkin has been a really positive experience over the past few years and one I enjoy every day.

"It's not all about the fastest times; it's about the challenge of competing in world class events like Ironman Vichy.

"Although it is technically not a team sport, BustinSkin is a team and we support each other through our training and also our own personal lives at times."

Although many BustinSkin members are high-level athletes, the club welcomes people to come along to training sessions to see if they might be interested in joining.

The club runs a series of races in the Dorset area, with an emphasis on the local scenery.

Mark added: "We have the bonus of training in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

"We have some amazing local coaches and fitness trainers in the area and there is always someone to join you on a swim, ride or run."

To find out more about the BustinSkin club or to get involved with their events, contact Mark at club@bustinskin.com.