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SUNDAY, September 23, saw the biggest individual field in the MacQueen Bros. Mid Argyll Triathlon’s history. With 82 triathletes and 13 local teams, the scene was set for some great racing last Sunday.
As a further challenge for the triathlon, the weather played its part, with dry, sunny, but very blustery conditions due to the strong south-westerly winds ensuring that competitors had to battle even harder to complete the 12 mile cycle and four mile run.
One local resident commented, ‘it was great to see so many people buzzing round the swimming pool and then later I saw lots of racers flying along on there bikes and dashing along the canal. Where do they get their energy from on a Sunday – it was fantastic.’
The winners of the individual event were:
Male Senior (1st male) - Stephen Clark - East Fife Tri: 1:02:12, Female Senior - (1st female) - Eleanor Haresign - Glasgow Tri 1:13:38, Male Junior - Cal McLennan, Troon 1:27:37, Female Veteran - Zoe Richards - Stirling Tri 1:23:18, Male Veteran - David Venables - Glasgow Tri 1:08:05, Male Super vet - Neil McCover - Kirkintilloch 1:11:02, Female Super vet - Mary Connolly - Helensburgh AAC, 1st Mid Argyll Female Finisher - Elena Adair - Kilmartin 1:21:26, 1st Mid Argyll Male Finisher - Stephen Whiston - Ardrishaig 1:11:16
Team categories: 1stAdult Team - Must Tri Harder - Ros Way, Joe McGhee, Andy Law 1:08:48, 1st Junior Team - Last Chicken in Sainsbury - Fraser Meechan, Andrew Meechan, Fergus Attwood 1:19:14; adult female: Barbreck Babes – Lizzie Rose, Katie Ritchie, Sally Macleod 1:21:49, adult male: the Donkeys, Gavin Smith, Stan Phillips, Dave Clark.
The team event showed some real competition and fun with all teams starting at the same time. The pre-race banter between the swimmers, cyclists and runners was almost worth a novel in itself!
First out of the pool was Creran Critters with Martin Waterhouse putting in a superlative swim of 7:31. He was then closely followed by Ros Way of Must Tri Harder 7:47. They then handed over relay-style to their cyclists. What happened on the cycle leg can only be imagined but Stan Phillips of The Donkeys took the lead in 32:48, with Joe McGhee second in 34.02. However, Andy Law of Must Tri Harder put in a fantastic run of 25:56 to bring them home in first place.
The other team categories proved equally competitive and great fun. The all-ladies team of Barbreck babes were a class ahead of their nearest rivals, winning by 22 minutes.
Similarly, the adult mixed teams was very competitive with Richard Barrie, chairman of the Mid Argyll Triathlon, competing as the cyclist, his team of Michelle Gordon swimming and Tina Barrie running, put in a fantastic effort but were pushed into third place by Crinan Cycles with Liz Campbell, Kevin Haldane and Hazel Whiston.
The adult male teams saw the Creran Critters, the Donkeys and the Round Table All Stars vying for top place. However, although Martin Waterhouse of the Creran Critters was the first out of the swim, the Donkeys had a strong run and bike leg to win this category by nearly two minutes. The Round Table all-stars, Stuart Macdonald, Colin MacFarlane and Robert McGlynn came third in a very creditable 1:40:44.
The performance of all the teams was fantastic with everyone roared on by their local support at the swimming pool.
Individual male senior and first overall: Stephen Clark 1:02:12, 2 Ian Grant 1:05:04, 3 Calum Grant 1:09:34.
Female individual senior: 1 Eleanor Haresign, 2 Nicola Meekin 1:17:59, 3 Elena Adair 1:21:46.
Female veteran: 1 Zoe Richards 1:23:18, 2 Angela Brunton 1:25:11, 3 Christine Catterson 1:25:45.
In a very strong male veteran field, visiting triathletes swept the podium this year:
1 David Venables 1:08:05, putting him third overall, 2 Martin Duthie 1:09:46, 3 Hendrie Barbour 1:10:03.
Male super veteran (50+): 1 Neil McCover 1:11:02, - 8th overall, 2 Ken MacEwen 1.22.30, 3 Thomas MacKay 1:26:50.
Female super veteran: 1 Mary Connolly 1:29:43, 2 Rosemary Neagle, Kilmartin 1:39:29, 3 Fiona Murphy 1:44:47.
Junior male: 1 Cal McLennan of Troon 1:27:37, 2 Seori Ormiston from Barcaldine 1:46:14.
Local male Triathletes: Stephen Whiston, Ardrishaig 1:11:16, 2 John Rae, Inverinan 1:15:27, 3 Garret Corner, Inveraray 1:20:40.
Local Female Triathletes: Elena Adair, Kilmartin 1:21:26, 2 Hazel Manson, Achnamara 1:28:16, 3 Fiona Corner 1:28:39
Fastest individual time from each discipline:
Swim 500m
Female – Simone MacAdam, Eredine - 6 minutes 56 Seconds
Male – Andrew Cullen, Stirling Tri - 6 minutes 49 seconds
Cycle 20 km
Female – Eleanor Haresign, Glasgow Tri – 34 minutes 35 seconds
Male – Ian Grant, Barrhead 28 minutes 36 seconds
Run 6.5 km
Female – Nicola Meekin, Appin 27 minutes 34 seconds
Male - Ian Grant, Barrhead – 24 minutes
Graham MacQueen, main sponsor of the event, presented the winners with their trophies and medals and gave every entrant a topof the range sports t-shirt. He also congratulated the competitors for achieving excellent performances and the race organisers for a truly memorable and fantastic event.
