PICTURES: Grantown Try Tri’s champion defends his title
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There was a full field of competitors for the Grantown Try Tri was held on Sunday after the success of last year’s revised May date.
Defending champion Andrew McGhee, of Inverness, shaved a minute off his time to win the race in a spectacular 52 minutes and 25 seconds.
Just nine triathletes completed the course in under an hour.
The lady’s contest was won by Rachel Calvert, also of Inverness, in an impressive one hour and two mins and 52 seconds.
Other notable performances came from Axton Stanton (Grantown) who won the boys U12s in a time of 1:28:53 and Dottie Buchanan (Perth) who won the girls U12s in 1:35:51.
The oldest competitor on the day was Kincraig’s very own Val Machin who finished in 2:04:15.
The field comprised both individual and teams and ages with the youngest being local swim team member Cameron Scott (10).
Bert McIntosh, from Aberdeen-shire and aged 80 plus was also there. He has taken part every year since the event was established in 2002.
The conditions were perfect with warm, windless air, and overcast.
The field of both novices and more experienced triathletes completed the 300m swim in the comfort of a heated pool at the Craig MacLean Leisure Centre, followed by a 16km cycle in the beautiful surroundings of the Braes of Castle Grant and a 5km through community owned Anagach Woods.
Chairperson Vicky Strange said: “The emphasis of the event has always been to enable competitors to give Triathlon a try.
She went on to explain even though quite a few experienced triathletes compete, it is designed for novices and swim times are seeded with slower swimmers starting first.
The team event is particularly popular with families who can accompany their children on parts of the course.
Grantown mother Vanessa Walker remarked: “My daughter Ayla (11) left me when she developed a fault with her bike, and we had to swap.
“I had to limp home without her!”
Ms Strange said: “We are mostly new volunteers on the Try-Tri committee and the emphasis has been on longevity and keeping a successful local event going.
“We are being strongly supported by the previous organisers and we are learning fast from their collective expertise.”
New committee member Laurence Phin said: “We have been looking at our use of sustainable supplies starting with the fabulous wooden medals created by the technical department of Grantown Grammar School along with reducing our use of plastic and waste and re-using supplies for next year”.
It takes an incredible 30 or more volunteers to provide a safe route for the competitors.
The event organisers said they are hugely grateful to those within our community who step up to this important role.
Mr Phin said: “The emphasis is strongly on working with individuals and other community groups.
“Grantown Swim Club assist poolside, Inverness Radio Volunteer cars patrol the bike route, and members of Osprey netball club and many, many individual volunteers from the community marshal around the bike and run route.”
A full list of results can be found at www.thistletiming.co.uk. Date for next year’s event is Sunday 18 May, 2025 and entries are open at www.try-tri.co.uk.
A full list of results can be found at www.thistletiming.co.uk .
Next year’s race will take place on Sunday 18 May and entries are open at www.try-tri.co.uk.
All pictures kindly supplied by Ben Thorburn. Look out for more photos in the next Strathy
