From 37 stones to successful triathlete... in two years.

Stuart Eggleshaw who no longer needs his old trousers after losing 20 stone in weight.

Fresh from being crowned as Slimming Word’s Greatest Loser 2014 at a ceremony in London last week, Stuart Eggleshaw, completed the Ashbounre Sprint Triathlon on Sunday, clocking a time of 1hr 22mins 35 seconds.

The 43-year-old defied the wind and rain to claim 191st out of 373 competitors, a result which saw him beat a number of racers affiliated to clubs.

“It was pure elation when I crossed the finish line,” said Stuart, who weighed 37 stone prior to his weight loss. “I wasn’t sure when I started I would get to the end of the race, but I managed it.

“Probably the hardest bit was the transition - just getting changed and remembering what to do.

“If someone had have said I would have been doing this two years ago I would have probably fell over laughing at them.”

Stuart started off with the swim, completing the 16 lengths in 12mins 31 seconds before getting on his bike to speed round the 10-mile route in 40mins 53secs.

He then rounded off his morning’s work with a 24mins 40 seconds run and though he crossed the finishing line amid a downpour, it could not dampen his spirits.

Stuart added: “It’s not an end to my journey, it’s just a good start to it.

“They’ll definitely be some more sprints (triathlons) but whether there’s a step up to a full (Olympic distance) triathlon is another thing!”