After a blistering start to the season with a highly impressive 1:05:13 clocking at the Bath Half Marathon, Matt Sharp would rightly have been disappointed with 34th (Cape Town) and 52nd (London) in his last two World Triathlon Series races, not reflecting the fitness that he had built over the winter.

The 2014 Leukaemia & Lymphoma Blenheim Palace Triathlon would prove to be an ideal domestic event to rebuild that confidence, and he took a clear victory in the first round of the British Triathlon Super Series - and his post race comments reflected the boost to his confidence for the remainder of the season.

Check of the finish line video from the race below, along with post-race comments from Sharp and second placed Mark Buckingham.

Elite Men - Blenheim Palace Triathlon 2014

Sharp said; “To be honest I wasn't having the best day. I gave it everything I had on the swim and tried to break away quite a few times on the bike but the group was pretty big. Then on the run, I just tried to go hard and maintain it all the way to the finish.

“I really needed that confidence boost today and I'm absolutely chuffed with my result. I've got Europeans in two weeks and it's a really hard, hilly course so it should suit me and I'm looking for a really good result there then on to the London Triathlon.”

Buckingham came a close second, completing the swim in 8mins 37secs, the bike in29mins 15secs and the run in 1hr 14mins, keeping pace on the swim and bike legs before Sharp's impressive dominance on the run.

“It was a very strong run from Sharpey today. Sprints are fast and furious and it was definitely that. We raced against each other in London last week and he was slightly better than me on the run there so it went to the form book I guess.

“Being on the podium is brilliant because when you're part of the super series it's tough to make those podiums.  I've been fourth, third and now second at Blenheim so if I keep the progress going, hopefully next year I'll be on top! I love racing here so I'll definitely be back next year. “

Third-placed Bishop secured his podium position with split times of 8mins 45 on the swim, 29mins 5secs on the bike and 18mins 38secs on the run course.