Joe Skipper's sub-eight hour iron-distance dream comes true

"I really want to target Challenge Roth and go sub eight hours. That is really my big aim for the middle of the season and I've wanted to do it for ages.... It's not something to go for half-heartedly, you have to go in 100% for a good result."

That was Joe Skipper (www.joeskipper.co.uk) talking to me in November 2015, looking ahead to the 2016 season. On Sunday, Joe proved that this was more than a 'hope' as he crossed the line at Challenge Roth in second place, in a time of 7:56:23 - the first British athlete ever to break the magical eight hour mark for the iron-distance:

Swim - 00:52:36
T1 - 00:02:22
Bike - 04:21:12
T2 - 00:01:22
Run - 02:38:52
Total - 7:56:23

Check out the stats on the following links for details of how Joe's performance fits into the all-time British and World history of iron-distance racing:

Related Article: Britain's fastest iron men

Related Article: Sub-8 iron men - the list

Here's a celebration image gallery from Bavaria to celebrate Joe's achievement.

(All images are copyright and courtesy of Stephen Pond / Getty images).

It is hard not to smile when going up Solarer Berg for the first time, one of the iconic locations on the Challenge Roth bike course.

Joe knew he would have to run a stunning marathon if he was to break the eight hour mark. 2:38:52 was rather stunning...

Talk is cheap - but Joe Skipper delivered on his objectives, becoming the first British athlete to record a sub eight hour time for the iron-distance.

If you can't smile after that performance, when can you.

Sharing an ERDINGER 'shower' with 2015 champion, Nils Frommhold, who Joe passed in the final kilometres to takes second place.

I think he enjoyed that...

The new British record holder, with the new World record holder, Jan Frodeno. The 2008 Olympic Champion produced a staggering 7:35:39 performance to beat the previous best of Andreas Raelert (7:41:33), set five years ago in Roth. What next for the reigning Ironman and Ironman 70.3 World Champion?

A time for reflection as the anthem plays.