Triathlon Series opener a huge success
The annual Live Borders Triathlon Series returned over the weekend with the Galashiels Swimming Pool hosting the first event of the 2023 season.
The event smashed last year’s participation figures and exceeded the pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, a great sign for organisers, Live Borders.
Fine conditions greeted participants as they worked their way around the various routes whether in the Junior, Come & Tri or the Sprint event.
In the Come & Tri, 19 participants toed the start line for the 400m swim, 10km bike and 2.5km run event. Andrew Chapman was first male over the line and the only participant dipping under the 50-minute mark in 45:38. First female, Erin Chapman, was third overall, finishing in 52:17.
Next it was the turn of the TriStars, with 100 young athletes taking part. Kicking off with the TriStar Starts (age 8), Kyla Richardson was first over the line in 09:57 ahead of Emrys Morley in 10:07. In the TriStar 1 (age 9-10) race, Iona MacDonald won in 14:56, seconds ahead of James Ohl in 15:01.
It was a family affair in the TriStar 2 (age 11-12) event, with Olivia Lyne first over the line (19:04) just 20 seconds ahead of twin sister Charlie Lyne (19:24). Rory Beattie was the first male across the line in 20:00.
In the TriStar 3s (age 13-14), Connor Birnie, took the win in 26:03, just five-seconds clear of the first girl, Nancy Corrie in 26:08. The Youth (age 15-16) athletes were last up, with Sam Beattie finishing with a strong run leg to take the win (23:01), a minute clear of next best. Zara Kidd was the first female (27:07). All Triathlon Scotland members in the youth races will earn valuable National Triathlon Series points.
On Sunday, there were 109 competitors in the Sprint event, with athletes completing a 750m pool swim, a hilly 20km bike and a final 5km run.
Veteran Iain Veitch had the fastest cycle and run of the day on his way to victory in 01:01:33. In the women’s race, Clare Laverty had a consistent race and finished in 01:14:32.
The local Triathlon Series, one of the biggest events of its type in Scotland, is organised and hosted by the Live Borders Sports Development and Leisure Centre teams, with many local clubs and other volunteers making the event possible on race event days.
Neil Renton from the Live Borders Triathlon Team said the event was a great success.
“Everyone was so pleased to be back and it was great to see previous competitors coming back and supporting the new Series. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said.
“We had people doing their very first triathlon, and also some seasoned triathletes who have returned again to compete which is brilliant.
“We hope that the success of the Galashiels event will help boost the remaining events in Selkirk, Eyemouth, Kelso and Peebles throughout the summer.
“We must say a huge thank you for the 30-plus volunteers who came and helped us run arguably the best event we have ever done.”
Full results and image galleries can be found here.
The Series will now move to Selkirk for a Junior event on Saturday 20 May. The Standard Distance event will return on Sunday 21 May, along with a Family Participation Event which will feature for the first time.
For more information or to book a place click here.
