Mull of Kintyre Triathlon Series returns, showcasing the area’s breathtaking landscape

2023 saw the introduction of an exciting new triathlon race series in the Mull of Kintyre (MOK).

The original MOK triathlon was born in 2014 and consisted of a sprint distance event in and around Campbeltown, ran by Campbeltown Running Club. Unfortunately, the last event in this guise took place in 2017.

Race Organiser Innes Boyd moved to the area at the start of 2021 after a 24-year career in the military, choosing Kintyre for the training opportunities following a game-changing remote working contract. At his first Campbeltown Running Club Christmas meal in 2021, he suggested re-starting multisport events in the area.

“I had set up a triathlon event wherever I had been and I decided it would be no different here,

“I spent a year swimming, biking and running around the peninsula. It seemed like round every corner was yet another little gem which would be fantastic for a triathlon,

“I started engaging with locals to identify where was good and where to avoid, and before you knew it three locations stood out.”

After pulling together a willing group of volunteers in late 2022, Innes and his team decided to run a race series rather than just one event, and so the Kilkerran MOK Triathlon Series was born.

“We like a challenge and we were keen to make the events as progressive and engaging as possible to offer a challenge for all competitors, with the hope of encouraging newcomers, those who were good at one or more discipline, and the seasoned triathlete.”

The series was well-supported by local businesses, with Glengyle Distillery joining as the main sponsor. The Southworth Development Group and West Coast Motors also offering support.

There was a shaky start, as the pool due to be used for the first race was closed for emergency repair work. Feeling grateful that the area was surrounded by sea, the format was changed and Campbeltown Sea Loch hosted the start of the Super Sprint (400m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run) event, launching the series in April.

Fast forward to July and Southend hosted the second race, a Sprint (750m swim, 19km bike, 5km run). This event also wasn’t plain sailing, with a storm hitting the area on event week which disrupted the beaches. However, it all cleared in time for the competitors to bask in the sunshine and enjoy their beautiful surroundings as they embarked on their challenge.

A final Standard Distance (1500m swim, 41km cycle, 10km run) event took place in and around Machrihanish in August. The bike course included a route into MACC park, a former RAF base, which boasts the second longest runway in Europe and allowed the majority of the bike leg to take place on closed roads.

This race also provided one of the biggest challenges of the series, with an extremely challenging run section, but the rewards were some of the best views in Scotland as competitors descended to the finish line.

Reflecting on the events, Innes said:

“Running a race series like this in such a remote location has provided a great opportunity for the area,

“It helps local businesses, as we try to encourage competitors to come for the weekend, or longer, and enjoy the best kept secret in Argyll,

“We are also in the process of developing a triathlon club to encourage more involvement in the sport locally.”

The series will return for 2024 bigger and better. The first race will take place in May from the re-opened pool, which has allowed them to add a junior aquathlon (swim, run). They have also added a duathlon (run, bike, run) option to all three events. The two sea swims have also been tweaked slightly to make them more spectator friendly for supporting friends and family.

“Our aim is to continue to develop our events into a permanent feature on the Scottish calendar,

“Next year we hope to add a Cross Tri (swim, mountain bike, trail run), as we are spoiled with great gravel roads throughout the peninsula.”

You can find out more about the series and enter here.

Watch the highlights video from the 2023 series here.

Event details:

Race 1: Campbeltown

Date: Saturday 4 May
Adult Triathlon:
Junior Aquathlon: 250-400m pool swim, 1-2km run
Adult Triathlon: 400m pool swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run
Adult Duathlon: 2km run, 10km bike, 2.5km run

Race 2: Southend

Date: Saturday 6 July
Triathlon: 750m sea swim, 19km bike, 5km run
Duathlon: 1.8km beach run, 19km bike, 5km run

Race 3: Machrihanish

Date: Sunday 18 August
Triathlon: 1500m sea swim, 41km cycle, 10km run
Duathlon: 3km run, 41km cycle, 10km run

Option to enter whole series or individual events.