Welcome to the Try-athlon: Which athlete will be victor?

T HEsun is shining today in Glasgow as we welcome you to Day Two of the Try-athlon. Excitement is building ahead of today’s action as the nations go head to head, putting forward their best multi-eventers, each hoping to take home the most impressive reputational boost.

Some are much further on in that regard than others, a real lack of a level playing field from this clutch of Try-athletes.

Opening today’s games is an event new here in Scotland, the vertical drinking competition.

Usually a team sport, the home nation is the only country fielding a contestant in the discipline.

The Scots competitor comes from a lengthy vertical drinking pedigree... and here he is, John Swinney emerging now, pausing briefly to dip his hands in the resin bowl, giving his palms a good dusting.

He’ll be wanting to make sure his grip is slip-free – one small drip or spill could cost him dear. Limbering up now. Working those wrists back and forth, his face giving nothing away.

Unfortunately for Swinney, vertical drinking venues, despite 16 months of preparations, aren’t allowed to open until next week.

Organisers at the games here approached several local schools to see if their gym halls were available but we understand there was no response.

So here he is, live over Zoom from his living room.

The ultimate aim here, as we know, is to move from vertical to horizontal as quickly as possible.

There he goes, the first sip.

Technically masterful, this will take some beating.

He goes for the velvet pursestrings, straight into a jacked-up flummox and moves on to a rapid mango.

No-one knows what any of it means but we’re hoping for clarification at some point before the scores come in.

And... we’re going to cut now to the thick of the action.

The reigning champion, Boris

“Bunter” Johnson is going head to head with Nicola Sturgeon in the synchronised snubbing.

Sturgeon has had a stellar run so far and as the lead medallist, this slick operator has been out in front, with a pre-emptive strike on Bunter.

Sturgeon extends the invitation... she knows he won’t accept, she’s making as much noise as possible.

There it is, a Twitter back and forth, she’s confident of a goal here.

Bunter was hoping to make the first headlines with his moves but instead Sturgeon has manipulated the state of play.

Always one step behind, Bunter’s looking tired. His game plan has been under wraps so far but it looks like his end goal is to dominate the field and let Sturgeon know her place.

The strategy’s failing so far.

He’s heading straight to Fife. There’s not much left in the tank here as Bunter makes awkward small talk with police officers.

Meanwhile, Starmer is going all out for the red team and taking his campaign to a windfarm. It’s a decent tactic. Not much artistic merit but he’s always been better at the bar. Points deducted for a literal interpretation of the theme but it’s a win over Bunter.

But wait. Oh! Bunter’s taking it to the next level in a last second defensive play. Could it be? Yes! He’s going offshore. He’s going to an offshore windfarm. Think of the photo ops.

The blue team is inching ahead now, no chance a medal here for Starmer.

Hang on. What’s this? Oh no, oh no... they’re letting him talk. What are the coaches thinking? This is a grave tactical error from Team BJ.

He’s speaking. This won’t end well. Groans from the audience as he praises former Try-athlete Maggie Thatcher for closing coal mines and causing misery across the country. Is he? Could he be?

Yes, he’s trying to put a spin on one of the most devastating political campaign of modern times.

It’s fallen flat.

Starmer’s back in the lead now with some pious chiding.

He’s getting digs in left, right and centre with very little to stop him.

Green energy,

And Sturgeon’s back in the race now. We saw her yesterday playing with children at a nursery school. Shoes off, mucking in, such larks.

Points lost for lack of originality after a strong start.

This is the race of her life and she’s trying to dictate the field of play, bringing her cause to the top of the agenda in front of a home crowd.

She won’t give it up easily and yes, she’s joined in the Bunter chiding. Always a crowd pleaser.

Who’s that at the back? He looks like he’s mouthing something. Could it be?

Is he telling the other contestants to “F*** off”? It looks like Alex Colehamilton, in the one-man race.

Cole-hamilton, there, making a surprise appearance in a South Queensferry gym, on a weights machine.

Showing off his muscular unionism here but is anyone paying attention?

Someone wants to rent his shed from Airbnb we’re being told.

It’s not enough to keep the crowds happy and we’re back to the three big teams, going head-to-head now.

What’s Starmer going to do about the future of his team in Scotland? He’s not a team player, he’s telling the judges firmly.

No coalition come election time. A canny move. And what’s this, he’s also challenging Sturgeon’s squad on their progressive credentials. Nice.

Bunter’s spaffed it – game over and he’s heading home empty-handed.

He’s never had the talent or the skills to be a truly great sportsman.

Maybe next time he could go up in the vertical drinking, it might be where his natural talents lie.

Starmer’s made an impression. He’s on the podium. Could this be a comeback for the beleaguered side?

It’s too early to tell if this is going to be a shakeup but it’s been a game without any fouls, which is more than can be said for his opponents.

Sturgeon is still top of the leaderboard but she’ll be hosting the competition again before long, and she’s going to need the run of her life.