The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Invergordon’s Lennox tastes coast-to-coast victory at last
It’s fourth time lucky for Inverness Harrier in Highlands
Invergordon athlete Gordon Lennox fulfilled a long-held ambition by winning the 50-mile Highland Cross coast-to-coast duathlon with an impressive performance.
The Inverness Harriers club member completed the 20-mile mountain run and 30-mile cycle from Kintail to Beauly in 3hr 27min.
Dave Wilby (Highland Hill Runners) won a close tussle for second position in 3:32:10, with Thomas Callan (Glasgow University) taking third place in 3:32:43.
Lennox, who was competing in the race for the fourth time, was delighted to lift the title after having come close on a couple of previous occasions.
He said: “I finished second in 2014 and 2015 and before that I think I was 15th or 16th, so it’s great to finally win it.”
Although Lennox enjoyed a big margin of victory, he didn’t have everything his own way on the running stage.
He said: “My aim was to get to the transition area at the end of the run feeling as good as possible so that I could be strong on the bike.
“I was leading to begin with but then Sam Hesling caught me and went past after about four miles. I overtook him again and pulled away but a while later around the 15-mile point, another of the Highland Hill Runners, Dave Wilby, overtook me.
“I quickly passed him again and by the end of the run I think I had a lead of about one minute and by then Dave had been overtaken by Thomas.
“I felt fine on the bike stage and didn’t really have to go flat out to extend my lead.
“I’m pleased with the way it went as it sets me up for my first ironman triathlon at Bolton next month.”
Kingussie’s Ewan McCarthy, who returned from his new home in Sweden to take part, finished fifth in 3:37:09, while Nairnshire Challenge champion Michael O’Donnell (Inverness Harriers) was sixth in 3:38:40.
McCarthy is still seeking an elusive victory, having finished runner-up on four occasions and twice being placed third in previous years.
Wilby also led the Highland Coffs to the men’s team prize with backing from Waldemar Krogulec and Richard Lonnen.