Epsom triathlete James Lock has his eyes set on victory at the Parc Bryn Bach Elite Triathlon this Saturday.

The fourth event in the British Triathlon Super Series will also double up as the British Triathlon Sprint Distance Elite Championships and Lock is looking forward to the challenge in South Wales.

“I have heard from all my Loughborough colleagues that it is a challenging course so I am looking forward to this weekend, I have been warned about the hills! It’s also known as a technical course but is over the sprint distance of 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run so it should be a fun afternoon.”

Juggling his training, competing and running his wetsuit company Zone 3, Locke is finding it hard to strike the right balance this year: “It’s been the busy season for me competing and running the business. From May until July I have been flat out preparing for each race and also trying to keep my customers happy.

I’ve done all the British races – Windsor I came 9th in compared to 6th last year and it was the same at Blenheim – I am not sure I am fitter than last year. But the plus side is at some races I have had my trade stand there and I have been able to network, but that does draw back on my performance so it’s a case of finding a balance.”

Coming from a swimming background Lock prefers the swim-run races but competing on the World Cup triathlon circuit is the ultimate aim: “I was a National swimming Champion growing up but its putting the three sports together that makes the triathlon what it is. Separately they are all easy enough its getting them all to work together and performing well is the hard bit. The run-swim-run events are my favourite’s – biathlon’s and aquathons but the World Championships have been in Mexico for the last two years which isn’t easy to get to. I want to be able to race in European Cups and then to get on to the World Cup circuit within the next two years.”

Competing with friends makes this quirky sport fun for Locke and he marvels at the recent success of Alistair Brownlee.

“All the British elite runners are friends of mine so it’s always fun competing with them. The training is intense, today for instance I have done an hour in the pool and will do some reps on the Epsom downs tonight but on Saturday we all meet up and enjoy each other’s company.

"It’s unbelievable what Alistair is doing this year, he has nailed every race he has done. He was always talented but it proves you have to put in a few years of solid training to push through on to the World stage. He is beating the best in the world which is just great for the sport in this country ahead of 2012.”

The Parc Bryn Bach Park Elite Triathlon, run by the British Triathlon Federation and part of a new British Super Series, takes place on Saturday July 18. The women’s race starts at 11.30am and men’s at 13.00pm. For more information visit www.britishtriathlon.org