Torquil’s time trumps rivals
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A HEALTHY entry of first timers took part in Wick Triathlon Club’s annual mini triathlon on Sunday.
Since it is held over a shorter distance it gives participants the opportunity to experience the challenge of three sporting disciplines in quick succession.
There were several withdrawals due to illness, but 33 competitors and two teams made it to the start line in sunny but blustery conditions. The swim leg of 16 lengths took place over three heats with the slowest swimmers taking to the pool first.
As each year passes the times seem to get faster with the slowest swim being 11 minutes 33 seconds, a huge improvement on previous years. The fastest swimmers competed in the last leg with first out of the water being Thurso triathlete Joe Spencer in 5.19 followed by Neil Robertson, from Orkney, in 5.36.
Swift transitions ensured the triathletes were soon on their way on their six mile cycle out past Haster to the turning point. The fastest was Orkney rider Torquil Clyde who completed the course in 16.49. Lorna Stanger was the second fastest cyclist in 18.28.
The run was completed with three laps over the two town bridges with lots of encouragement from spectators at the end of each lap at the pool. David Spencer sped round the run in a desperate, unsuccessful effort to catch his son, and completed the run in 9.17. Just four seconds slower than David was Torquil in 9.21. There were two teams taking part, Team Wick and Team Thurso. In a closely fought race Wick emerged the winners in a time of 42.54, much to the delight of pool staff Erin Mackay, Willie Little and Alan Larnach.
The Thurso team of Carolyn Swanson, Richard Moncur and Vicky Hill put in a sterling effort and completed the course in 49.12.
Results: 1 Torquil Clyde 33.19 (1st male). 2 Joe Spencer 35.50 (1st junior male). 3 David Spencer 36.20 (second male). 4 David Sutherland 36.27 (third male). 5 Neil Robertson 36.49. 6 Lorna Stanger 39.33 (1st female). 7 Keith Warhurst 39.48. 8 Graeme Morgan 40.05. 9 Mark Weir 41.12. 10 Sandy Christie 41.42.
11 Sandy Grigor 42.45. 12 Danny Miller 42.45. 13 Simon Harrison 45.13. 14 John Amy 45.14. 15 Valerie Webster 45.24 (second female). 16 Fiona Bremner 45.28 (third female). 17 Yvonne Pollard 46.06. 18 Michael Robertson 46.27. 19 Lisa Coghill 46.53. 20. William Sutherland 47.42. 21 Martine Hughes 48.35. 22 Helen Wallace 48.39. 23 Trev Johnson 49.44. 24 Emma Jonston 49.57. 25 Chelsea Durrand 50.03 (1st junior female). 26 Bryan Newlands 51.25. 27 Kenny Boyd 52.05. 28 Elizabeth Masden 52.34. 29 Martyn Malcolm 52.35. 30 Robyn Aitkenhead 53.48 (second junior female). 31 Peter Dobbie 55.18. 32 Chris Nellies 55.54. 33 Pattie Coghill 1.02.05.
Next on the club’s calendar is the sprint on June 9.
