Kids brave the cold in battle for medals
Olympic hopefuls watch races at university
Young athletes braved freezing weather to put their running and biking skills to the test in the annual Beaconhurst Duathlon last week.
A total of 72 children, from age seven upwards, competed in the gruelling junior race at Stirling University despite the cold conditions.
The event was the fourth duathlon hosted by the independent Bridge of Allan school and participants faced a tough course near the university’s golf course.
It involved a run followed by a bike ride and a second run with children from schools across Stirling taking part as well as a team of 10 pupils from Lathallan School in Johnshaven, Angus.
Medal winners had the chance to meet two Olympic hopefuls – triathletes Grant Sheldon and Hannah Howitt who presented the prizes following the event.
Headteacher Sandra Bannerman said: “Resilience is one of our school values and all the competitors and marshals showed they had plenty of that today. Following the race, I had lots of children coming up and saying it was cold but they enjoyed it and that was great to hear.”
Director of Sport Judith Ramsay and PE teacher Colin Turnbull organised the competition with the help of senior Beaconhurst pupils and parents who acted as marshals and timekeepers.
Ms Ramsay was delighted with the turnout and the effort put in by all the competitors, many of whom were taking part in their first duathlon.
She said: “We were pleased to see so many children from neighbouring schools taking part and were delighted that pupils from Lathallan School travelled all the way from Angus to compete.
“A duathlon is a very tough race and it was great to see the sense of achievement in the faces of the children as they crossed the finish line.”
There were six different age categories for the races, beginning with a contest for seven year-olds, followed by a race for kids aged eight and ending with a race for competitors aged 15-plus.
After the races, competitors returned to Beaconhurst for refreshments and a medals ceremony. The competition was the fourth duathlon organised by Beaconhurst which began hosting community events – based on the popular sport of triathlon – four years ago. Since then, four aquathlons have also been held at Stirling University with a fifth planned for next year.
It will take place on a school holiday, Monday, May 1, and will be open to pupils from local primary schools.
Beaconhurst will also be involved in supporting the Scottish Schools Aquathlon for Secondary Schools in April. Results Age 7 boys: 1 Dillon Graham; 2 Max Meikle; 3 Alex Wishart. Age 8 girls: 1 Hazel Welsh; 2 Grace Peacock; 3 Kirsten Rugg. Boys: 1 Dean Fearn; 2 Zak Downie; 3 Jason Dickson. Age 9-10 girls: 1 Arabella Blackburn; 2 Rosie Meyer; 3 Lily Blackhurst. Boys: 1 Murray Welsh; 2 Aidan Beveridge; 3 Liam Beveridge. Age 11-12: 1 Elise Graham-Marr; 2 Heidi Elise Eik Maxwell; 3 Summer MacLean. Boys: 1 Cameron MacMillan,; 2 Cameron Darnborough; 3 Struan Craig. Age 13-14: 1 Carrie Banks; 2 Alex Hyde; 3 Cora Erskine. Boys: 1 Keir Robb; 2 Eoin Simpson; 3 Cameron Blance. Aged 15-plus: 1 Sophia Green; 2 Bethany Burch; 3 Lizzie Winton. Boys: 1 Logan MacLean; 2 Dan Hesp; 3 Ben MacMillan.