40-44 age group in the Great Clairmont triathlon in Clairmont, Florida at the weekend.

Richardson's time of one hour, 41 minutes and 44 seconds also placed the 41-year-old 23rd overall in a field of 397.

Professional Alec Rukosuev won the 500-metre swim/21-mile bike/five-mile run event in 1:31:03.

Richardson said he was using the race to tune up for his fourth St. Anthony's triathlon in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the end of the month.

"My swim was just appalling but I had a good bike ride and I was leading my age group one-and-a-half miles into the run, but then I slacked off a bit and was overtaken,'' said Richardson.

Last year in the St. Anthony's, Richardson finished 13th in a time of 2:07.

This year, his goal is a top-10 finish in a time under two hours.