Town and rural pupils compete for honours in Wick Junior Triathlon
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The annual Wick Junior Triathlon saw the town schools of Newton Park and Noss competing alongside the rural primaries of Watten, Bower, Thrumster, Keiss, Lybster, Canisbay and Crossroads. Secondary pupils from Wick and Thurso high schools also competed.
There were a total of 37 primary team competitors, 11 individual senior entries and two senior teams. The start of the event was held at Wick swimming pool. The swim distance was 250m for both P6/7s and high school pupils and 150m for the younger P4/5s.
Competitors started in the deep end to enable easier access through the exit to tag their team-mates in the bike transition.
The cyclists then pedalled round the outskirts of the high school building and up the steep hill to the all-weather pitch.
Glorious sunshine and a gentle breeze made conditions excellent for the budding triathletes. A large crowd of family spectators gathered outside the all-weather pitch to watch the field events of cycling and running take place.
Fast & Furious from Newton Park won the P4/5 town trophy. Team-mates Liam Gunn (swimmer), Davie Swanson (cyclist) and Alex Traill (runner) came home in a time of 8 min 41 sec.
Twelve seconds later in second place were Noss 7, consisting of Nebi Senguler (swimmer), Riley Manson (cyclist) and Cameron Macleod (runner), in 8.53. Twenty seconds later, in a time of 9.13, came the Newton Warriors – Leigh McBeath (swimmer), Raegan Ross (cyclist) and Toby Sutherland (runner).
The P4/5 rural trophy was awarded to Keiss’s Three Amigos who were Campbell Green (swimmer), Callum Booth (cyclist) and Aurora Bain (runner) in a time of 10.15. Their Keiss schoolmates, Speed Strikers – Lewis Breeze, Isla Jack and Thomas Wright – followed 37 seconds later in 10.52 to claim second place.
Third went to mixed team Speedy Allsorts from Canisbay/Thrumster. Lia Miceli from Canisbay took to the pool for the swim discipline, while Thrumster duo Lucy Gray (cyclist) and Aiden Inrig (runner) were on the all-weather pitch.
P6/7 town had a very close race with only three seconds separating second, third and fourth places. But clear winners on the day, and showing off their triathlon experience, were the Newton Ninjas – Lucy Harper, Sam Shearer and Joe Gill – in a time of 12.05.
Thirty-six seconds after were Noss 1 – Rylie Mackay, who was swimming, along with team-mates Logan Leith (cyclist) and Connor Davidson (runner). Third place, and only one second behind Noss 1, were team Noss 3 – Carla Edwards, Rona Taylor and Jayden Bremner.
Racing home only two seconds after them, in fourth place, were KMC Newton – Katie Innes, Max MacKillop and Connelly Fairweather.
Nine teams were entered into the P6/7 rural race. Clear winners were Watten’s Funny Gummys – Glen Miller (swimmer), Ewan Sinclair (cyclist) and Oli Paton (runner) – who took first place in 12.10.
Canisbay’s Mix Ups raced home in second place – Katie Ross (swimmer), Isabella Miceli (cyclist) and Callum Smith from Thrumster in a time of 14.54. Third place, in 15.12, went to Bananas in Pyjamas – a last-minute team made up of Daisy Hunt (swimmer) from Crossroads, Voe Brock (cyclist) and Rebecca Henderson (runner), both from Bower.
Eleven individual competitors from both Wick and Thurso high schools were entered along with two teams from Wick High.
Sam Mackay (THS) took the prize for overall male in 12.31. Sam was followed closely five seconds later by Wick’s Owen Edwards in a time of 12.36.
Owen’s twin brother Rhys Edwards (WHS) crossed the line 14 seconds after in 12.50. Ryan McNeil (WHS) and George Mills (THS) followed next in 13.08 and 14.19 respectively.
Sandy Hunt (THS) was next over the finish line in 15.16. Thurso newcomer Jasper Davey’s determination to finish gained him a respectable time of 16.07.
Overall female, and fastest senior on the day, was last year’s winner Rachel May (THS) in 12.26. Schoolmate Karla Mackay took second place in 13.40.
Rachel’s younger sister, Shannon May, made it a family affair and was awarded third place in 14.25.
The only Wick female individual entry was Chloe Nicolson who, after having problems in the bike transition, finished fourth in 21.46.
Only two senior teams, both from Wick, competed. Maisie Statham (swimmer), Cody Smith (cyclist) and Reece Munro (runner) took home the overall team trophy in a fantastic time of 11.43. Second place went to Joanna Gunn (swimmer), Rachel Mackay (cyclist) and Abbie Harrold (runner) in 12.21.
Dounreay Communities Fund provided sponsorship towards a T-shirt for each competitor and Tesco Wick supplied refreshments, while Martin Gill from Blackstairs Highlandwear sponsored medals and presented the prizes.
Race organiser Valerie Webster from Wick Triathlon Club gave a vote of thanks to all volunteer helpers, High Life Highland for the use of the pool and the all-weather pitch, and Newton Park PTA for providing refreshments – but "special thanks to the competitors for their fantastic team spirit on the day".
