Triathletes put on strong show at SNOWs

Triathletes from across Scotland descended on Castle Semple Loch this weekend for the 2024 Scottish National Open Water Championships, with Triathlon Scotland members picking up 27 medals across the two days of competition.

With multiple races across the two days covering distances from 500m up to 10km, the event provided a fantastic opportunity for pathway and age group athletes to test out their swimming form without having to hold anything back for cycling or running.

Saturday hosted the middle distance events, with races across 5km and 2km.

First up was the Male and Open 5km, where Triathlon Scotland Academy athlete, Oscar Chirnside, put on an impressive display to dip under an hour (58:29) and take the win in the 15-16 years age group, defending his title from last year. Academy Affiliate athlete, Conner Aspinall, was third in 1:01:37.

Stirling Triathlon Club’s Connor Stewart also had a good morning, finishing 3rd overall and 3rd in the 17-24 age group, clocking an impressive 57:36, just 3 seconds shy of silver. Clubmate Andy Turnbull defended his 2023 title, claiming gold in the 45-54 age group (1:13:28).

In the Female event, triathletes took a clean sweep in the 13-14 years event, with the gold going to Glasgow Triathlon Club’s Daisy Gildea in a dominant performance that saw her defend her 2023 title and finish 6 minutes clear of the rest of the field (1:05:53). TrYthan’s Katy Tweedie was 2nd in 1:11:51, just ahead of clubmate Ava Smith (1:12:25).

There were also podium finishes for Lucy Hall (2nd 15-16 years, 1:07:12), and Alison Pringle (2nd 25-34 years, 1:15:07), as well as English member and National Triathlon Centre athlete Lily Shaw (3rd 17-24 years, 1:05:56).

In the afternoon it was time for the 2km races, with Connor Stewart taking the overall win in the Male & Open event (23:06), just ahead of Conner Aspinall in 2nd (23:09), who took the 15-16 years title. Rowan Geary finished 4th overall to claim bronze in the 15-16 years age group (23:37).

In the Female event, Next Generation Squad athlete, Isla Hedley, did one better than last year to take the overall win in 23:43, ahead of fellow Next Generation athlete Jessica Heeps (24:13). Alison Pringle also managed a step up on the podium from the morning, claiming victory in the 25-34 years age group.

There was also a second victory and title defence for Daisy Gildea, who won the 13-14 years age group in 24:59. Ava Smith was 3rd in 26:44. Medals were also awarded to Lucy Hall (2nd 15-16 years, 25:01) and Elodie Dempster (3rd 12 years, 32:20).

On to the Sunday and the morning saw swimmers take on the open 10km events, with Conner Aspinall (2:09:03) and Rowan Geary (2:17:09) finishing 4th and 5th respectively.

In the afternoon, it was the short 1km races, with Conner Aspinall achieving an impressive win overall despite his marathon efforts in the morning (11:23). There was also a bronze for Oscar Geary in the 13-14 years age group (13:01).

In the Female event, Isla Hedley was back on top of the podium, claiming overall victory in 12:04 ahead of Daisy Gildea in 2nd (12:15), who also picked up a third gold of the weekend in the 13-14 years age group.

Lucy Hall was just 1 second behind to claim 3rd overall (12:16) to complete another podium of Triathlon Scotland members. There was also a bronze medal for Elodie Dempster in the 11-12 years age group (14:59).

Last up was the 500m event for younger age groups, with East Fife Triathlon Club dominating the Male & Open event to fill the podium. Cameron Seeley took the win in 7:33 ahead of clubmates Eddie Niven (7:40) and Max Gilbert (7:49) in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Congratulations to everyone who took part. Full placings by Triathlon Scotland members are listed below.

Find the full results on the Scottish Swimming website.

Saturday 15 June

Male & Open 15-16 years 5km
1st Oscar Chirnside – 58:39 (5th overall)
3rd Conner Aspinall – 1:01:37 (7th overall)
4th Fergus Reid – 1:03:24 (9th overall)
6th Daniel Hendry – 1:05:39 (12th overall)

Male & Open 17-24 years 5km
3rd Connor Stewart – 57:36 (3rd overall)

Male & Open 45-54 years 5km
1st Andy Turnbull – 1:13:28 (20th overall)

Female 13-14 years 5km
1st Daisy Gildea – 1:05:53 (4th overall)
2nd Katy Tweedie – 1:11:51 (14th overall)
3rd Ava Smith – 1:12:25 (17th overall)

Female 15-16 years 5km
2nd Lucy Hall – 1:07:12 (6th overall)

Female 17-24 years 5km
10th Megan MacDonald – 1:15:27 (21st overall)

Female 25 – 34 years 5km
2nd Alison Pringle – 1:15:07 (20th overall)

Male & Open 13-14 years 2km 
4th Oscar Geary – 27:39 (22nd overall)

Male & Open 15-16 years 2km 
1st Conner Aspinall – 23:09 (2nd overall)
2nd Oscar Chirnside – 24:13 (8th overall)
4th Finch Geary – 24:31 (10th overall)
10th Luke Coull – 29:00 (27th overall)

Male & Open 17-24 years 2km 
1st Connor Stewart – 23:06 (1st overall)
3rd Rowan Geary – 23:37 (4th overall)
6th Rory Treharne – 24:33 (11th overall)
8th Zach Seenan – 26:00 (16th overall)
9th Fraser Donaldson – 26:31 (19th overall)

Female 12 years 2km 
3rd Elodie Dempster – 32:20 (47th overall)

Female 13-14 years 2km 
1st Daisy Gildea – 24:59 (5th overall)
3rd Ava Smith – 26:44 (11th overall)
7th Freya Edie – 28:06 (23rd overall)
9th Katy Tweedie – 28:48 (28th overall)
12th Libby Tweedie – 30:11 (36th overall)

Female 15-16 years 2km 
2nd Lucy Hall – 25:01 (6th overall)
5th Juliette Kidd – 26:47 (12th overall)
9th Rosie Heeps – 27:56 (22nd overall)

Female 17-24 years 2km
1st Isla Hedley – 23:43 (1st overall)
2nd Jessica Heeps – 24:13 (2nd overall)

Female 25-34 years 2km 
1st Alison Pringle – 29:04 (30th overall)

Sunday 16 June

Male & Open 10km 
4th Conner Aspinall – 2:09:03
5th Rowan Geary – 2:17:09

Male & Open 13-14 years 1km 
3rd Oscar Geary – 13:01
7th Connor Birnie – 13:52
9th Cillian Sweeney – 14:25
11th Charlie Lyne – 14:37

Male & Open Open 1km 
1st Conner Aspinall – 11:23
6th Finch Geary – 12:00
11th Oscar Geary – 13:01
15th Connor Birnie – 13:52
16th Luke Coull – 13:55
18th Cillian Sweeney – 14:25
20th Charlie Lyne – 14:37
23rd Andrew Ross – 16:29

Female 11-12 years 1km 
3rd Elodie Dempster – 14:59
4th Eva Stuart – 18:11

Female 13-14 years 1km 
1st Daisy Gildea – 12:15
4th Imogen Jarrett – 12:47
5th Ava Smith – 13:02
6th Katy Tweedie – 13:11
8th Freya Edie – 13:13
9th Olivia Lyne – 13:26
15th Libby Tweedie – 14:41

Female Open 1km 
1st Isla Hedley – 12:04
2nd Daisy Gildea – 12:15
3rd Lucy Hall – 12:16
6th Imogen Jarrett – 12:47
9th Ava Smith – 13:02
10th Juliette Kidd – 13:05
12th Katy Tweedie – 13:11
14th Freya Edie – 13:13
15th Olivia Lyne – 13:26
27th Libby Tweedie – 14:41
30th Elodie Dempster – 14:59
31st Isla Coull – 15:27
35th Eva Stuart – 18:11