Tri and mighty see youngsters make waves at Lakeside

THE Crosby Lakeside Junior Aquathlon attracted some of the best young multi sport athletes in the North West, with local youngsters well represented in podium positions.

In the boys and girls Junior (17-19) and Youth (15-16) categories, there was a double for host club Merseytri with Josh Chapman, Anna Hulme, Adam Jones and Megan Smith taking the honours respectively.

In the younger age groups, Fraser Cooke and Olivia Logan, also both Merseytri, claimed victory in the Tri Star 2 (11-12). Brother and sister Alex and Emma Poulston took individual race victories, for the club, in Tri Star 1 (10-11) category

The event organiser Mike Lisle, an England international triathlete, described the occasion. He said: “The course, of varying distances, consisted of a lake swim followed by a run up to the promenade overlooking the famous Ironmen statues.

“After early morning rain, conditions were cool with only two of the 90 competitors brave enough to swim without wetsuits

“As the distances got shorter and the competitors younger, the action was fast and furious. This involved experienced young triathletes, who were trying to gain points for the North West Series, mixing with youngsters who were experiencing open water swimming for the first time.

“There was tremendous support for all the competitors, with special cheers for all the eight year-olds who competed in the final Tristart wave of the day.

“All the competitors finished down the Avenue of Flags and received a medal. It really was a great event at a perfect venue for Aquathlon.”