Matthewson, from Richmond, Surrey, was nearly five minutes ahead of fellow Vet40 Jon Darwent, from Whitchurch Hill, Reading, who finished in 1:08:13.

In third place was senior Jakub Faglio, from Bracknell, in 1:09:12, and just one minute and 15 seconds later, RAF Triathlon’s Abigail Bagshaw crossed the line in 1:10:37 as first woman and fifth overall.

Bagshaw, who is based in High Wycombe, is an accomplished Great Britain age group competitor who took gold in the 20-24 age group at May’s ITU World Sprint Duathlon in Pontevedra, Spain. Matthewson is also a GB age group competitor, winning bronze in the 35-39 age group sprint at the 2010 ETU Triathlon European Championships.

They led home a field of 120 in the first sprint triathlon to be hosted at Dinton Pastures Country Park, near Wokingham. The event was organised by Reading-based Barnes Fitness in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council and attracted competitors of all abilities.

The course comprised a 750m open water swim in Black Swan Lake, a 20km bike ride on a local route around Hurst and Twyford, and a 5km off-road run in the park.

Second woman home was Melanie Sanghani, from Wokingham, in 1:17:32, and third was 15-year-old TriPurbeck member Serena O’Connor, from Poole, Dorset, in 1:17:38.

First Vet40 man outside the top three was fourth-placed Nick Onslow, from Tadley, Hampshire, in 1:09:49, and first Vet50 was Jon Clark, from Ashford, Middlesex, in 1:11:56. First Vet40 woman was Jenny Mussett, from Earley, Reading, in 1:17:50, and first Vet50 was Shelley Archer, from Wokingham, in 1:23:07.

The last competitor crossed the line in 2:06:17, and organiser Ellie Barnes, of Barnes Fitness, said: “We’re delighted the event attracted such a wide range of abilities, from complete novices to experienced Great Britain age group triathletes.

“There was also a significant number of entrants from well outside the Reading area, which demonstrates just how popular triathlon is becoming as a participation sport.”

Full results at bit.ly/1sSsfOb .