PICTURES: Return of Grantown Try Tri is hailed big success
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The Grantown Try Tri re-launched after the Covid-19 pandemic on Sunday and has been hailed a great success.
Overall men's winner Andrew McGhee, from Inverness, completed the course in 53:27 whilst the winner of the ladies race, Samantha McLeod, also from the Highland capital, clocked a finish time of 1:02:00.
There was a full field of competitors, comprising both individual and teams and ages ranging from visiting swim team member Aled Lynn (9) to Bert McIntosh from aged 80+, both from Banchory.
Despite continuous rainfall during preparations the previous day, the event itself proceeded in near perfect wind and temperature conditions.
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 run through the community owned Anagach Woods.
Grantown Try Tri chairwoman Rebecca Mackellar said: “The emphasis of the event has always been to enable competitors to give Triathlon a try."
The event is designed for novices and swim times are seeded with slower swimmers starting first.
The team race is particularly popular with families who can accompany their children on parts of the course.
Grantown mother Beccy Stanton told the Strathy: “My son Axton left me for dust, finishing seven minutes ahead of me and achieving a PB!”
Team BAJer Rovers competitors comprising P6 Grantown Primary School pupils Bode MacDonald, Aaron Sunde and Jamie Brooks raised £750 in sponsorship for their football team Strathspey Rovers.
Bode said afterwards: “Although it was really hard we are so glad we did it and it was lots of fun”.
Due to the generosity of local sponsors, the event was able to recover quickly from its three-year absence.
Stalwart sponsors Masson Cairns Solicitors and Estate Agents entered a team and owner Kate Anderson, who swam for Team ‘Worth a Tri’ alongside Abby Ross (cyclist) and Rosie Anderson
(runner) said after crossing the line: “We shall be back next year!”
More than 30 volunteers helped with the smooth running of the Grantown Try Tri on its return.
Committee member Vicky Strange said: “We are particularly pleased to be the recipients of Wilderness Scotland’s Wilderness Conservation & Community Fund (WCCF) which directly supports local community events.
"This year their funds have contributed to pool and hall hire."
Competitors’ final timings were not available immediately due to a small technical issue however the organisers handed out numerous spot prizes and emailed final results that evening.
The organisers are in the process of posting out prizes to the winners and a full list of results can be found at www.thistletiming.co.uk.
Next year’s Grantown Try Tri has been set for May 19 and entries are open at www.try-tri.co.uk.
Looking to the future
The organisers of the event have said that the future of the event is looking rosy.
Mrs MacKellar said: “The emphasis has been on longevity and sustainability of the event with new volunteers joining the committee, . We are working on a handover programme and since the first event was in 2000, its about time a few of us allowed younger folk to step in."
She added: "It takes an incredible 30 or more volunteers to provide a safe environment and the event organisers are hugely grateful to those within our community who step up to this important role."
Laurence Phin, a new committee member, commented “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."
The emphasis is strongly on working with individuals and other community groups with Grantown Swim Club assisting poolside, Inverness Radio Volunteer cars patrolling the bike route and senior Grantown Grammar School pupils helping at water stops.
Additional community sponsorship came from the Co-op who supplied copious amounts of bananas and juice; Berry Burn Community Fund who covered costs of the timing system and medals; Grantown-based EAL Electrical’s funds boosted competitors’ spirits with well-earned flapjack at the finish line and Highwater Scotland Ltd contributed to supporting the junior prizes.
