Island 2 Island Triathlon Festival on June 3 and 4

Triathletes from around the UK are gearing up for an epic swim, sprint and bike over the island next weekend.

Arran Triathlon Club’s Island 2 Island Triathlon Festival runs from Saturday June 3 to Sunday June 4 at Lamlash Outdoor Centre.

Competitors will vie for the largest cash prize in the sport’s history in Scotland: £5,000. Saturday first sees the sea swim from Holy Isle for those doing the half or Olympic distances, and from the outdoor centre from those doing the full/sprint or tri star races.

For the bike race, Transition 1 will start at the Outdoor Centre, travelling clockwise around the island’s ring road for the full/half distances, and for all other events it will be out and back. Finally in the running event, the Transition 2 will again start at the outdoor centre. The course will be a Tarmac track following the sea through Lamlash and back.

The children’s events take place on the Sunday but, be warned, Arran Junior Triathlon Club will be a force in their own back yard! Race director Craig Wood, head coach of Arran Triathlon Club, said: ‘I wanted to show off our island and what we can offer as a race day experience, along with a venue, memorabilia and evening entertainment that the triathletes deserve after taking on their own battles throughout the day. You deserve an event, not just a race.’

Live entertainment, including music, dancing, food and a climbing wall, follows the awards ceremony at 8pm. Prizes include short breaks, sporting holidays, goodie bags, vouchers and loads more. You can find the full programme at www.arrantriathlonfestival.com