Two athletes from Thurso are celebrating completing one of the toughest challenges in the country at the weekend.

Kenny Macgruer was competing in the Celtman Extreme Scottish Triathlon for the first time, while Lorna Stanger was taking part for the fifth time. Both run with the North Highland Harriers.

The gruelling event began at 5am with a two-mile swim across Loch Shieldaig, followed by a 125-mile cycle through the hills of Wester Ross, and finishing with a marathon including an ascent of the two Munros on Beinn Eighe – for those who make the cut-off.

Kenny completed the blue routev – which includes the Beinn Eighe part of the course – in 15 hours, 57 minutes and 13 seconds, placing him 64th. Lorna completed the white route in 16 hours, 24 minutes and 46 seconds, for 27th place in the women's category.

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Both Lorna and Kenny say they are planning to return to tackle the Celtman again next year.

A total of 154 athletes started the event, with 11 competitors retiring.

Entries were well down on previous years, due to Covid restrictions preventing many of the competitors, who travel from all over the world, being able to attend.

Records fell in both the men's and women's sections. Ewan Brown of Corstorphine AAC cut 43 minutes of the men's record when he returned a time of 10.56:37, while fellow Scot, Eilidh Prise cut five minutes off the women's record, with her time of 13.08:06.

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