IRON PRINCE

Yesterday Copenhagen was host for the first time to an Ironman triathlon competition. This is a more than slightly nutty endurance race, which started in Hawaii and is now spreading around the world; 3.8km of swimming, followed by 180km of cycling, and then a full marathon of 42.195km.

One of the competitors was the 45-year old Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark and heir to the throne. As such, he became the first ever member of a royal family to participate in, and get through, an Ironman (Trivial Pursuit addicts, take note).

There were roughly 2,600 participants and the Prince came in as number 505, in the very creditable time of 10 hours, 45 minutes and 32 seconds. Running Denmark in a couple of years' time should be much easier.

Walter Blotscher