A CHEPSTOW man is wowing audiences of a musical and sporting kind with impressive performances on the stage and on the track.

Richard Munday, 35, from Chepstow, is not only an avid triathlete, but also a West End performer.

Having recently represented Great Britain in the ETU Challenge Half Iron Man European Championships in Majorca and won gold in the 35-39 age group category, Mr Munday also juggles performances as understudy of ‘Raoul’ in the extremely popular West End show, The Phantom of the Opera. He said: “I always had a love of sport and acting and have always combined the both throughout my life.”

His passion for musical theatre started young where he attended National Youth Theatre Wales and regularly performed in school concerts. Mr Munday attended Chepstow School until he moved away at the age of 18 where he secured a place at Mount View Academy of Theatre Arts in London. As well as his most current West End triumph in The Phantom of the Opera, Mr Munday has also appeared in shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Blood Brothers and Romeo and Juliet.

Mr Munday decided to compete in the half iron competition after participating in a number of triathlons previously. He said: “It was quite gruelling. We had to do a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride followed by a 21km run. They advertised the cycle as flat and fast and it was anything but!” After returning home from the championships in Majorca, Mr Munday has now been asked to defend his title in the next competition in Rimini, Italy next year.

When he’s not performing or training for his next sporting venture, Mr Munday teaches arm chair aerobics and sings at a residential care home in London. “I find it quite hard finding the time to fit it all in. In order to train and keep fit, I will often get up really early before work and go for a swim. I also run to rehearsal or sometimes I run late at night after finishing a show, it can be very tiring, but I love it,” he said.

Despite his successes, Mr Munday still finds time to come back to Chepstow once a month. “I always love cycling around Gwent, the scenery whilst riding through the mountains is beautiful. I also come back to train with Chepstow swimming squad with their head coaches.”