Race Report | 2024 Scottish National Duathlon Championships

As the Championship season draws to a close, the final Scottish National Championship event took place on Sunday 22 September in St Andrews, hosted by the University of St Andrews. Competitors were hoping to take the last medals available and be crowned 2024 Scottish National Duathlon Champion. 

It was a cool, but dry, day in St Andrews, with a small breeze, as the competitors lined up on the start line. The Championship race start was split into two waves, decided by the competitors 5k run time. The 88 competitors completed a 5km run beginning at the University of St Andrews playing fields and exiting out onto the streets of St Andrews. The undulating 25km bike leg would see the competitors ride out to Ceres and Baldinnie before heading back to move to the final leg, a 2.5km run.

Within the Open race, it was tight at the front, with Stuart Paterson, recording the fastest 5km run time of the day in 15:29. Paterson, Rory Treharne, and Stephen Molly all coming into transition within 17 seconds of each other. A quick transition by all and they were out onto the bike where it would all change at the top.

Jesse Dawson, Ewan Taylor, and James Tree put on an incredible show on the bike to pull themselves up the standings. Dawson recorded the fastest bike of the day in 39:27, and rode himself into 3rd place as the riders entered transition. With just 51 seconds between the top 6, the race came down to who still had run left in their legs.

Out onto the 2.5km run, Treharne managed to extend their lead over Paterson, with them finishing in first and second place, respectively. With the fastest 2.5km run time of the day, 09:06, Molloy ran his way from 6th place to 3rd to take the last spot on the Open podium.

In the Female race, Lydia Louw, demonstrated her great running form by taking an early lead, and recording the fastest female 5km run time in 19:06. Less than 30 seconds behind, and hot on her heels were Nathalie Brohan, Joanna Patterson, Jacqui Thomson, and Tracy Wilkinson Begg.

After a fast transition, they were out onto the bike, where Patterson shone. Recording the fastest female bike of the day in 44:54, they were an incredible 2 minutes 40 seconds ahead of the field coming back into transition. Brohan and Louw also put in solid bike performances to hold 2nd and 3rd place. With less than 30 seconds lead, there was no time to waste and, just as in the Open race, the podium places would be decided on the final run.

Again, Louw showcased their running form with the fastest female 2.5km of the day in 11:09, pulling them from third place into second ahead of Brohan. However, no-one could catch Patterson after the bike and they held the top spot to the finish.

Our thanks go out to the University of St Andrews for hosting, the volunteers who make the sport happen, and also the competitors for a great race.

Overall Open Winners
1. Rory Treharne
2. Stuart Paterson
3. Stephen Molloy

Overall Female Winners
1. Joanna Patterson
2. Lydia Louw
3. Nathalie Brohan

Full results can be found here