The Aberfeldy Sprint Distance Triathlon 2012 took place earlier this month with the race start list hitting its maximum numbers target of 200 athletes.
There were a few hot favourites on the start list: Ewan Mulhern, a former member of the Scottish National squad, Peter Anderson a Scottish under 23 international, Mark Taylor from Wick Triathlon Club and Robert Harrison from Perth Triathlon Club.
Many of these names lived up to their reputations and Ewan Mulhern from Fusion Triathlon Club took 1st place at 01:04:00. Ewan was closely followed by Mark Taylor taking 2nd place 01:05:13 minutes and Scott Thompson taking 3rd place at
01:08:16.
In the woman’s category there was only seconds between the winners and it really came down to the last run with Louise Dytch taking 1st place with a time of 01:19:42 and was very closely followed by Francesca Oswoska who taking 2nd place at 01:19:47 and Val Martin who taking 3rd place 1:19:50.
The race started on time with the first heat of eight starting at 12noon. The potential winners came from Heat 8 and with David Smith from Inverurie first out of the water in a very swift 09:12 minutes, followed very closely by Ewan Mulhern just 4secs behind and then Peter Anderson in 10:03 minutes. The men’s race then really heated up both in racing and temperature terms.
Mark Taylor from Wick Triathlon club flew through the bike course and entered T2 with the fastest bike split of the day, 33:56 for the 20km. In the run, Scott Thomson from Edinburgh Road Club stormed through the field and came through with the impressive fastest run split of the day in 17:23 minutes for the 5km. Ewan Mulhern ran strongly to get the 2nd fastest run of the day in 18:12 minutes.
In the women’s race Deirdre Kearney for Perth Triathlon Club started as slight favourite as her strong swim at 10:37 minutes gave her an advantage going onto the bike. However, Louise Dytch and Hannah Hutchison of Fusion Tri Club would make sure it wasn’t a one woman race.
Val Martin for Dooley Cycles was pushing hard on the bike and ended with the fastest bike spilt of the day. Margaret Anderson and Francesca Oswoska were also cycling hard and making inroads to Deirdre and Hannah’s lead. Then the final run was a competition between the final three lady finalists.
The Aberfeldy Middle Distance Triathlon takes place in August. For further information visit www.liveactive.co.uk.
