Mid Argyll Triathlon triumphs
“That was good and hellish at the same time,” summed up one smiling competitor, finishing the MacQueen Bros Mid Argyll Sprint Triathlon on Sunday September 24, a fun annual event balancing local community participation and sporting contest, writes Sandy Neil.
Eighty triathletes began their odyssey around 11am, after a pep talk and instructions from organisers, with a 500m swim splashing up and down the MACPool in Lochgilphead 25 times.
Still in their swimsuits the competitors raced for their bikes and weaved their way through cordoned channels onto the next trial.
“My body is shaking,” one informed supporters, amidst the frantic change into cycling shoes and helmets in the “transition area”, before setting off on the 21km peddle.
The “bike sprint” along the Crinan Canal headed north up the Oban road, left to Cairnbaan, on to Bellanoch Bridge, then Moss Road, Drimvore, and back battling the A816 traffic to the MACPool.
“The headwind is what the cyclists hate,” said one organiser and veteran triathlete. “That wind was awful,” confirmed one participant.
For the most competitive, checking their watches for personal bests, the Mid Argyll Triathlon presents a unique hurdle. “The bridge at Cairnbaan adds a bit of jeopardy,” said an organiser. “There were a couple of boats. They may have to wait.”
Once back at the MACPool, the cyclists, dismounted, re-racked, and transitioned into running trainers and, with the stopwatch ticking ,they hit the pavement.
Across the road, it was a flat 6.5km run down the canal to Ardrishaig, feeling the wind and cheers on their backs from morale-boosting family, friends, and even dogs. “Kirsty is the best,” read one sign in bright felt-tip letters. “Now you Seena, now you don’t,” declared a giant cardboard placard.
The weary, glowing racers returned one by one, heralded by claps to the finish under an inflatable orange arch. As their feet stepped over the line, some triathletes beamed, others bent, but all showed relief. “The run was fine,” recalled one, “but the bike was horrible.”
A medal was draped over their necks, and a goodie bag thrust into their hands, by the keenest and tiniest of marshals, while the 19th Argyll Scout Group was on hand with revivifying hot soup and cakes.
While the triathlon was certainly a triumph for the competitors, it was also a feat for the many organisers.
Despite months of careful planning, a storm blew a tree down across the route at Dunardry the night before the event but the team were on site by 6am getting it all ready for the start, bang on time.
The rain even held off until the very
Mid Argyll RFC players hit the ground running at the Campbeltown Kintyre RFC Dalriada last weekend.
Playing at the Meadows on Sunday September 24, teams from Mid Argyll and Oban joined hosts Campbeltown Kintyre for a great day with some excellent rugby being played across the board from last of the runners returned, and the organisers remained late to make sure everything was cleaned and cleared.
“It went amazingly,” said race director John Anderson. “There are people from all over the country. The best thing is we get a lot of beginners. It’s all good fun. I’ve almost caught up on sleep.”
Category winners: Junior (and overall winner) Charlie Treharne (1:04:54); Senior open - Andrew Meechan (1:11:52); Senior female Lucy Donaldson (1:15:35); Veteran open - David Carey (1:12:01); Veteran female - Sarah Griffin (1:22:34); Super Veteran open Gareth Treharne; Super Veteran female - Alison Roger; Vintage open - Martin Duthie; Vintage female - Pauline Penman; Super Vintage open - Douglas Wood; Super Vintage female - Sue Allen.
P4/5 up to the U14s. After some close and hard-fought games with all teams scoring some brilliant tries and showing great defence, Mid Argyll came out on top winning all three of their games and being deserved winners.
In the P6/7 tournament Mid-Argyll came into the day being unbeaten in the previous z More photos online at www. argyllshireadvertiser.co.uk two Dalriadas. The confidence showed and the team was well organised and playing some excellent rugby going unbeaten again.
Mid Argyll are showing that they are the team to beat in this age group at the moment.
The squad are looking to continue their winning ways at the next round in Taynuilt on Saturday October 28. z More rugby on page 23.
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