CRICKLADE'S international triathlete Emma-Kate Lidbury put up a splendid effort to finish fifth in the Ironman Vineman 70.3 in Sonoma County, California over the weekend.

The winner, American Meredith Kessler, was taking the ‘Queen of the Vineyards’ title for the third successive year.

Lidbury, who now lives and trains in the States, finished the 1.2mile swim, 56m bike and 13.1m run in 4hr 21min 49sec, 10 minutes behind Kessler.