Race Report | 2024 Scottish National Youth Triathlon Championships

The sun was beaming down on Bellahouston Park yesterday (18 May) as over 150 young athletes geared up for our 2024 Scottish National Youth Triathlon Championships.

Hosted by Fusion Triathlon Club, the course took place entirely within the park, making use of the Bellahouston Club leisure centre and the park paths and velodrome for the cycle and run sections.

Race distance varied by age group:

• TriStar Start (8 years):  50m swim, 1.4km bike, 600m run (non-Championship event)
• TriStar 1 (9-10 years): 150ms swim, 4km bike, 1200m run
• TriStar 2 (11-12 years): 200m swim, 6km bike, 1800m run
• TriStar 3 (13-14 years): 300m swim, 8km bike, 2400m run
• Youth (15-16 years): 400m swim, 10km bike, 3km run

Racing first were the TriStart Open & Female races. There was no Scottish title up for grabs in this age-group but the event provides a great opportunity to be introduced to the sport at a young age and get a taster of what it is like to participate in a race environment. Maverick Souter was the first to cross the line in the open category in 09:26, with Charlotte Stewart not far behind  to be the first female over the line in 10:15.

Up next were the TriStar 1 Girls, and a consistent performance from Megan Birnie (Glasgow Triathlon Club) saw her take the win in 21:08. Having been a minute down on the front of the pack exiting the swim, Rowan Lennox (Fusion Triathlon Club) put in a strong effort on the bike and the fastest run split of the day to chase down the leaders and finish second in 21:23. Katie Dawson (Glasgow Triathlon Club) was the third Championships-eligible athlete over the line in 22:10.

In the TriStar 1 Open race, it was a dominant performance for Rhuari Toole (Fusion Triathlon Club), clocking the fastest split on all three disciplines to finish in 17:13. Asher Noble also had a consistent performance to claim second in 18:02. Emrys Morley (Triathlon Inverness) would hold off the rest of the challengers to take third in 20:13.

We then moved onto the TriStar 2 age group, with selection for the Triathlon Scotland IRC Team at stake.  In the Female race, a dominant bike split would help Emma Nicholson (Glasgow Triathlon Club) to the win in 23:32. Emi Daunt (Edinburgh#3) posted the fastest run on her way to second in 24:46. A consistent effort from Eve Chalmers (TrYthan) saw her take third in 24:58.

The TriStar 2 Open event boasted the biggest field of the day and one of the most exciting races of the day. First and second had the exact same split for both the swim on the run, with Jack Kidd (East Fife Triathlon Club) just having the edge on the bike and transitions to take the win in 23:01. Non-eligible English athlete, Finley Waugh, finished just 11 seconds back in 23:12. Cillean Morrison took second in the Championships (24:08) ahead of William Mifsud (East Fife Triathlon Club) in 24:39.

After a break for the adult novice wave, we then headed into the TriStar 3 Female race. Last year’s TriStar 2 Champion, Olivia Lyne (Fusion Triathlon Club), posted the fastest bike split on her way to another victory in 28:07, just ahead of English visitor Kathryn Pye (North East Development Squad). Rachel Caves (Pentland Triathlete Juniors) took second in the Scottish Championships (29:23), with Ava Smith (TrYthan) in third (29:56).

There was a family battle in the TriStar 3 Open race, with Harrison MacMillan (Stirling Triathlon Club) taking victory in 26:30. His twin, Rory MacMillan (Stirling Triathlon Club) finished third (27:33), with Ross Allan splitting the to brothers to take second place in 27:10.

Last to race were our Youth athletes, with many of the Triathlon Scotland Academy squad in attendance and looking to put in a strong performance. In the Female race, Tess Byrne (West Lothian Triathlon Club) posted the fastest swim and bike splits on her way to victory in 36:56. The fastest run split came from Juliette Kidd (East Fife Triathlon Club) to secure her the silver (37:14). Emily Langdon (Fusion Triathlon Club) finished third in 37:51.

In the final race of the day, Youth Open, there was a fierce battle at the front of the race from the off. Having matched each other on the swim and bike, Tristan Robin (Fusion Triathlon Club) pulled away on the run to take the win in 31:40, ahead of Israel Noble in 31:53. Euan Murphy (TrYthan) took third in 32:23.

Triathlon Scotland would like to say a thank you to our hosts, Fusion Triathlon Club, and their many volunteers and marshals for making the event such a success.

Well done to all who completed the race in all age groups and categories.

Podium Winners:

TriStar 1 Female
1st Megan Birnie (Glasgow Triathlon Club) – 21:08
2nd Rowan Lennox (Fusion Triathlon Club) – 21:23
3rd Katie Dawson (Glasgow Triathlon Club) – 22:10

TriStar 1 Open
1st Rhuari Toole (Fusion Triathlon Club) – 17:13
2nd Asher Noble (Unattached) – 18:02
3rd Emrys Morley (Triathlon Inverness) – 20:13

TriStar 2 Female
1st Emma Nicholson (Glasgow Triathlon Club) – 23:32
2nd Emi Daunt (Edinburgh#3) – 24:46
3rd Eve Chalmers (TrYthan) – 24:58

TriStar 2 Open
1st Jack Kidd (East Fife Triathlon Club) – 23:01
2nd Cillean Morrison (Unattached) – 24:08
3rd William Mifsud (Fusion Triathlon Club) – 24:39

TriStar 3 Female
1st Olivia Lyne (Fusion Triathlon Club) – 28:07
2nd Rachel Caves (Pentland Triathlete Juniors) – 29:23
3rd Ava Smith (TrYthan) – 29:56

TriStar 3 Open
1st Harrison MacMillan (Stirling Triathlon Club) – 26:30
2nd Ross Allan (Unattached) – 27:10
3rd Rory MacMillan (Stirling Triathlon Club) – 27:33

Youth Female
1st Tess Byrne (West Lothian Triathlon Club) – 36:56
2nd Juliette Kidd (East Fife Triathlon Club) – 37:14
3rd Emily Langdon (Fusion Triathlon Club) – 37:51

Youth Open
1st Tristan Robin (Fusion Triathlon Club) – 31:40
2nd Israel Noble (Unattached) – 31:53
3rd Euan Murphy (TrYthan) – 32:23

Full results can be found HERE.