STING IN TALE FOR AQUATHLON ACE FERGUS
Brave Fergus endures jellyfish-infested waters
There was a sting in the tale for Fergus McDowall at the World Aquathlon Championships in Denmark – after he swam through jellyfish-infested waters on his way to a fifth place finish.
The 47-year-old firefighter, from St Leonards, was competing in his first World Championships as he represented Great Britain at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) event in Middelfart.
However, his hopes of a top display in the water were hampered by the tentacled beasts, who stung him and other competitors several times during the one-kilometre swim, which was followed by a 5k run.
Over 500 athletes took part and, despite the ordeal, Fergus finished fifth in the 45-49-year-old category in 33 minutes and 54 seconds – just 20 seconds off a bronze medal.
The watch manager at East Kilbride Fire Station said: “It was a horrible experience. Not one athlete escaped being stung.
“I don’t know if it was the heat, but everyone was surprised by it. We weren’t aware of it before the race and it was unique to everyone.
“I was stung all over my feet, face and hands – everything the wet suit didn’t cover. Thankfully, the adrenaline helped me through.
“After all that I was happy to finish fifth because I went there with a top 10 finish in mind, but, only 20 seconds off a bronze medal, I was delighted and gutted at the same time.”
Fergus took up the sport six years ago and can add his fifth place finish at the worlds to a fifth-place at the European Championships in Slovakia last year, as well as a sixthplace at the Euros in France in 2016.
Now he has his sights set on retaining his Scottish title at Loch Lomond this weekend. He has won the over-40s crown for the last four years and knows he will face more favourable conditions on the Bonnie Banks than he did in Scandinavia.
“The worst I’ll have to contend with will be the midges, so I’ll take that,” said Fergus, who has worked with the Fire Service for 27 years.
“I hope I can go out and win for a fifth time. I’ve run and swam all my life, but it’s great that I’ve been able to combine the two and make a success out of it over these last six years.
“It’s an amateur sport and you have to fund it yourself, so it’s difficult to attend some events. I’m hoping to go to the Euros in Ibiza in October, but I’ll need to see how things go.
“My colleagues in the service have been a great help with their encouragement and assistance with training, as have the Masters swimmers at the Dollan Aqua Centre where I swim most days. I’d like to thank them all for their support.”