Hundreds arrive in Cupar for high class east Fife triathlon

Organisers attracted more than 200 participants to Cupar Sports Centre for the annual triathlon.

It not only catered for beginners with a novice option, a sprint event for the more seasoned triathlete, or indeed those looking to take on a greater distance, they also played host to the largest Student National Championships to date.

The Scottish Water National Student Championships took place as part of the sprint distance event.

Participants, in the sprint-championship combined race, made their way round the course that comprised 750m pool swim, 20km bike section, concluding with a 5km run.

With 160 athletes making it to the start line it was a big race, eventually won by Kristof Anheuer in 1:08:57.

In the women’s race, Glasgow 2014 Triathlete, Natalie Milne took the top spot in 1:14:31, several minutes ahead of second place Emma Lamont (1:18:45)

In the Scottish Water National Student Championships the largest field to date, turned up to battle for the title with Paul Kerr of the University of Edinburgh taking the top student spot, alongside the University of Stirling’s Cara Pedley, in her triathlon debut.

A novice event was run where participants covered a 400m swim, 10km bike ride and 3km run. With just shy of 50 participants it was a big field where Dean Milne won the male’s event in 54:31, Campbell Hay was second in 55:18 and Brian Watson took third spot in 56:44.

The female race was won by Lindsay Arnott in 1:04:12, with Gwen Tivendale just seconds behind in 1:04:17 and Debbie Jackson pipped Rose Campbell in to third by just one second in 1:08:59.

The Scottish Water National Champion Paul commented on his victory: “It was tough, especially as the weather turned just as we were heading out on the bike, but I enjoyed the race today.”

Cara Pedley added: “I am enjoying triathlon and am hoping to take part in the open water Scottish Sprint Championships race.”