TRIATHLON: Sleaford club chairman completes Scottish extreme ironman race

Attracting triathletes from around the world – 39 countries in all – the epic race in the Scottish Highlands featured a 3.4km swim, 202km bike leg and a 42km mountain marathon.

Ann’s swim began at 5am and went across Loch Shieldaig, after which she jumped on her bike for the arduous cycling section.

The first 19km of the run took her through Cullin Pass to a checkpoint at the base of Benn Eighe, which she reached within the 11 hour time limit to allow her to choose the high mountain route and the chance to win the coveted Blue T-Shirt.

Ann, who has only been a triathlete for five years, said: “In 2014, I ran the race and missed the checkpoint by four minutes so took the lower of the mountain routes. I was determined to go back and get a Blue T-Shirt so entered again and this time round I reached the cut off with 15 minutes to spare.

“The weather and the views on the mountain were spectacular.”

The first 1.5km of the high mountain route saw her climb 3,300ft to the top before traversing a long ridge and then dropping down a very steep scree slope and back down the finish in Torridon.

Ann said: “I completed the race in just over 17hrs – exhausted but elated and having won a Blue T-Shirt. The event has no finishers medals but some friends of mine made me a medal and posted it up for the finishing line. What a lovely surprise that was.”

n Tri3 Sleaford is always open to new members who would like to try triathlon, with training sessions catering for all levels, from sprint events through to ironman distance.

The club has both an adult and a growing junior section, so enquiries are welcome from all age groups.

If anyone is interested in joining they can visit www.tri3sleaford.co.uk or call 07899 964163.

The club is also actively seeking a local business or businesses to join the club as sponsors and would welcome any help with funding to train up new coaches and expand what the club has to offer.