CEO Update – July 2025

This last month has been dominated by events and welcoming new members of the Triathlon Scotland Board. 

What a weekend we had in Orkney for the 20th International Island Games.  The sun shone, the water temperature was a balmy 16.5 degrees and Bob Newton as Race Director and the team at Orkney Triathlon Club put on a great race.    

To see the thousands watching and cheering on the athletes from 13 islands / nations was truly amazing and listening to some of their stories of their travels to Orkney was eye opening.  The lengths that some of the competitors from the warmer islands were taking to prepare of the change in climate made me smile.  The triathletes from Gibraltar had been taking ice baths to prepare themselves for swimming in colder waters.  Watching them enter the water at Stromness harbour for the first time was very amusing, but it reminded me of the preparation that we go through at all levels to prepare ourselves to race. 

Orkney 2025 Games Ambassador Lorraine Kelly joined us at the race resplendent in a Triathlon Scotland ‘buff’ and was around transition getting an upfront view of the race. 

Scottish athletes delivered on race with Orcadians Claire Rendall taking gold in the female race and Bobby Oag taking bronze in the Open race and the Shetland team taking silver in the female team event. 

It isn’t all about the athletes as they can’t race without the officials and it was a privilege to see the work up close of the team of Linda Lucey (TO), Amie Biddulph (referee), Eric Blyth and Mark Stothart (MOTOs). 

Celtic Cup 

Last Saturday was the culmination of the qualification process for the first Scottish Age Group team to race against Wales for the Celtic Cup.  Many thanks to Adam and the team for delivering a great race at Monikie and allowing us to use it as our qualification event.  I thought I carried lots of Haribos to races but Adam and the team outdid me with tubs of them. 

I really enjoyed the conversations we were able to have with those hoping to qualify and then watching the race and the jeopardy of racing for a place and the chance to wear the amazing Scotland trisuit.  It certainly does bring out that little extra in our performances when there is more on the line. 

As ever it doesn’t matter whether you cross the line first or last the cheers are just as loud and that was certainly on show on Saturday. 

When opportunity allows I always like to grab some time with the Technical Officials at the race and it was the same at Monikie, this time there was a little more in the conversation as lead TO was Drew Matheson, the new Interim President of Triathlon Scotland. 

President 

Being able to welcome Drew Matheson as our new Interim President over the last month has been excellent and listening to Drew’s views of the sport has given a different dimension to my thinking.  I know that he is very keen to hear from members as to how we can improve the sport, where we can develop things further and make it better for all involved. 

I know Drew will be reaching out to clubs to listen to feedback, but if you see Drew at a race please go and say hi and have a chat. 

The background to the interim role is that we have not received any nominations for the role of President across the last two AGMs.  Therefore in lien with our Articles we are in the position to appoint someone in between AGMs leading to a full nomination process for our next AGM in November. 

Commercial Director 

I’ve also had the chance to meet with our new Commercial Director joining the Board, Richard Rankin.  He is currently CEO of H&H Group plc and will help shape our commercial strategy for the benefit of our members as well as Triathlon Scotland.  We will be looking for strategic partners over the next 12 months and onwards to support the growth and development of our sport at all levels.  If any members have any connections that you believe would be interested in becoming a strategic part please get in touch. 

Richard also brings an added bonus of being a triathlete and so has a great understanding of the sport and that certainly helps when having conversations with brands and understanding the approach we need to take. 

I’ll finish this month with some notable performances from athletes at the National Triathlon centre.  Congratulations to Mille Breese on her victory at the Bristol stage of the British Super Series, Cameron Kerr triumphing at the 2025 Sprint Distance National Championships at Lanesboro TC’s Two Provinces Triathlon over in Ireland.  

Steve