TWO amateur athletes, including a father-of-one who survived cancer, have been described as inspirational after representing their country at international competitions.

Four years after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, James Oldfield qualified to be part of Team GB in the 2017 Duathlon World Championships in Canada.

Mr Oldfield, who teaches at Bishop Barrington School in Bishop Auckland, competed in the 30 to 34 age category, taking on a 5K run, followed by a 20K cycle, and then finally a 2.5K run. In a high-quality global field, he completed the course in 1:05:26, finishing in 11th place and the fourth among his fellow Brits.

Mr Oldfield turned his attention to running following a gruelling course of chemotherapy and quickly became a popular and talented member of his local running club, Sedgefield Harriers.

The PE teacher previously focused on football but following his cancer diagnosis he felt a calling to become an athlete and wanted to prove to his pupils that “normal people can achieve things.”

He said: “The experience was amazing and that's because of so many kind people helped with funding to get me out to Canada. I’m very grateful to everyone who supported me and gave me that opportunity to wear a Great Britain vest.”

Another Sedgefield Harrier achieving great things is Justin Cox who ran for the England Masters Marathon Team against the Celtic nations at the MBNA Chester Marathon earlier this month.

Mr Cox qualified for the contest after finishing in the top five for his age group (40 to 44) in the Yorkshire Marathon last year. It is the first year England Athletics have put together a Masters Marathon Team to reward regular club runners who would not otherwise have the opportunity to represent their country. Mr Cox completed the marathon with a personal best of 2:45:53, finishing 48th overall and 14th in his age group. His successful streak continued last weekend when he triumphed at the Northumberland Castles Marathon.

Phil Houghton, chair of Sedgefield Harriers, said: “James and Justin are two of the club’s most dedicated and successful athletes and hugely deserved the honours that they earned.

"Their achievements have created a buzz among Sedgefield Harriers and demonstrate to our junior members what can be achieved with the right application and coaching support.

"We already have other younger athletes, such as Kieran Walker, who have reached the brink of earning a national vest, and I am sure, once we achieve our ambition of our own training track and field facilities, that many more will follow.”

To find out more about Sedgefield Harrier, visit sedgefieldharriers.co.uk.