Published on:
30
August 2013
The inaugural Gartmorn Dam off-road duathlon was held last Tuesday evening and has quickly been hailed as a resounding success with a gorgeous late summer's evening ensuring that the park was shown off at its spectacular best.
The junior race started at 6pm with 19 likely stars of the future showing the watching adults how it was done. For P6-P7s, the race started with a 750m run followed by a 1.8km bike and then a final 1km run. First home was Cameron Blance in a blistering 12 minutes and 28 seconds, piping Callum Byrne by one second with Charlie Robins a mere 0.5 seconds after.
In the girls' race Kate Richardson won in a hugely impressive 14 minutes and 6 seconds with Darcy Baxter second in 14.28 and Alison Jack (who is actually in P5!) third in 17.32.
For the S1-S2s, the course was a 1.2km run to start, a 1.8km bike and then a 1km run. First in the male category was the classy looking Morgan Bown winning comfortably in 14.21 with Daniel Robins second in 15.39. In the girls, Sally McPherson (16.06) just edged out Elizabeth Winton (16.11) with Sally's younger sister Ruth third in 17.44.
The adults' race started at 7pm and after having run 2.5km competitors got onto their mountain bikes to cycle a lap of the Dam and then finished this off with a final 1.7km run up through the Brothies. First home was Shaun O'Donnell in a very quick 29.03 with Nicola Bishop the first woman not far behind in 32.25. All the competitors were finished in well under an hour with the backmarkers coming in in around 45 minutes.
The S3-S4 race was also run with the adults, which involved the same bike loop with slightly shorter runs. Lachlan Peterson won the male race in 25.48 and Jodie Currie the female in 26.47.
Following the races competitors and spectators enjoyed the late summer sunshine and a vast array of home baking provided by local charity Play Alloa. Feedback on the races has already been incredibly positive with a clear cry for more races like it in the future.
Councillor Ellen Forson, Education, Sport and Leisure Convenor, said: "I am delighted that the first ever duathlon at Gartmorn Dam was a success. The Dam is an ideal location for multi sport events and I hope we are able to repeat this sort of event in the future. This event was funded by Event Scotland as part of the Games for Scotland programme, but would not have been possible without the support of a range of staff from across Council services. In particular maintenance around the Dam was completed in time for the event. The marshals, many of whom where young leaders and volunteers as well as Council staff, were complimented by the competitors as being supportive and friendly encouraging all participants. St Andrews First Aid were only needed to provide treatment for a wasp sting.
"In the junior section around half of the participants were competing for the first time and learned about the event from their school. Some of the adults entered to support their children and were also competing for the first time."
Rebecca McFarlane from the race co-organisers Clacks Active said: "That was a fantastic evening of racing. The atmosphere amongst the competitors was brilliant and I have a strong suspicion several of the onlookers have been inspired to take part in the next one if we are successful in organising another. We are so fortunate in Clackmannanshire to have areas like Gartmorn Dam."
The organisers would like to give a huge thanks to all the volunteers who played such a crucial role in the event's success as well as the race sponsors, Rock and Road Cycles and Craft UK.
Games for Scotland
Games for Scotland is a programme of events designed to inspire, motivate, engage and engender pride in the people of Scotland in the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The programme, managed by EventScotland (Scotland's National Events Agency), forms a key part of the Scottish Government's commitment to deliver a lasting legacy as a result of the Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland. With one year to go, excitement is building in the lead up to Glasgow 2014 as young people across Scotland look forward to this landmark year of sport.
People across Scotland are being invited to join the excitement in the lead up to 2014 by going along to one of the events taking place between 1 June to 31 August 2013