Race Report | 2025 Scottish National Youth Championships

On Sunday, June 15, 2025, the picturesque Knockburn Loch near Banchory, Aberdeenshire, played host to the Trythan Triathlon Festival – a vibrant celebration of multisport and community spirit. Organised by the TrYthan Triathlon Club, the festival attracted athletes of all ages and abilities, from seasoned triathletes to enthusiastic youth competitors. The event also played host to the 2025 Triathlon Scotland National Youth Championships, underscoring its significance in the Scottish triathlon calendar.

After a heavy downpour on Saturday, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for Sunday’s racing – with sunshine brightening the day and creating ideal conditions for all participants. Knockburn proved to be a fantastic venue for the Youth Championships, and the event was expertly organised by Dennis and the team. It was inspiring to see so many athletes taking part, especially across the TriStar 1, 2, and 3 categories. For many, this was their first-ever open water swim triathlon, and the smooth running of the event earned glowing feedback from competitors and spectators alike. The positive atmosphere was palpable throughout the day, with encouragement and support flowing freely among everyone involved.

The race distances withing the Youth Championships varied by age group:

• 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

The TriStar 1 Female athletes kicked off the day, and it was Summer Ross who immediately set the tone. Dominating the swim, Ross surged ahead, leading the pack from start to finish. Kyla Richardson, however, was never far behind, closing the gap and entering the transition zone alongside Ross. Meanwhile, Verity Mackenzie, who had a slower start, made up vital ground, putting herself in contention for a podium spot. On the run, Ross held firm, crossing the finish line in 1st place, while Mackenzie put in a strong final push to secure 2nd, and Richardson clinched 3rd place.

The TriStar 1 Open race followed, where Emrys Morley immediately laid claim to the top spot. Their excellent swim had him leading out of the water, closely pursued by Bradley Thomson and William Hicks. Not to be outdone, Maverick Souter pushed hard on the bike, moving from 4th into 2nd place. The trio kept their positions throughout the run, with Morley securing 1st place, Souter finishing in 2nd, and Hicks rounding out the podium in 3rd.

The TriStar 2 Female race was an exciting showdown, with Iyla Souter, Iona Macdonald, Caladh Macdonald, and Anwen Morley all jostling for the top spots. C Macdonald and I Macdonald set the pace, exiting the swim in 1st and 2nd places. But Souter had other plans, showing exceptional stamina on the bike and running her way into 1st place with the fastest run time of the entire TriStar 2 field. Despite a strong run from Anwen Morley, it was Iona Macdonald and Caladh Macdonald who claimed 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.

In the TriStar 2 Open, the race was just as intense. Eddie Niven, Zachary Boyd, and Alfie Edwards were neck-and-neck after the swim, but Alasdair Ogg made their presence known on the bike, pushing up to 3rd place. Niven, however, was unshakeable, maintaining the lead throughout the race and crossing the line in 1st place. Boyd worked hard for 2nd place, while Edwards managed to edge out Ogg in the final run to claim 3rd.

The TriStar 3 female race brought out the best in all the athletes, with Emi Daunt, Eve Chalmers, and Ailsa McLeman setting a quick pace early on. On the bike, Olivia Lyne and Ava Smith fought their way from mid-pack to the front, entering transition in 1st and 2nd places, respectively. Lyne held her lead throughout the run, finishing in 1st place, with Smith in 2nd. Daunt, starting 5th out of T2, posted a blistering run to surge ahead into 3rd place, recording the fastest run split across both the female and open TriStar 3 categories.

In the TriStar 3 Open, it was Cameron Seeley, Eddie Bathgate, and Rory Fotheringham who exited the swim first, vying for podium places. After a quick swim, Charlie Lyne made their move on the bike, transitioning into 1st place and never looking back. Despite a hard push from Seeley and Fotheringham on the run, Lyne held strong to finish in 1st place. Seeley crossed the line in 2nd, with Fotheringham securing 3rd.

The final races of the day were the Youth category events, and they didn’t disappoint. In the female race, Juliette Kidd, Rachel Caves, and Emily Langdon were neck-and-neck out of the water, separated by just six seconds. There was just over 20 seconds separating the top three athletes after the bike, setting up an exciting run to determine the podium. Caves put in a strong final effort, pulling away to claim 1st place, while Kidd held off Langdon for 2nd place. Langdon put in a solid run performance to finish in 3rd.

The open race similarly started with just six seconds between the leaders, Ross Allan and Joe Crawford, after the swim. Not willing to let them out of their sight, Connor Birnie and Cillian Sweeney followed close behind. Out on the bike, Crawford took the lead with a strong performance. Allan came back fighting and with a fast run, passed Crawford to secure 1st place crossing the line. Crawford held onto 2nd place, while Birnie held onto 3rd place throughout.

A massive thank you goes to the event organisers at TrYthan Triathlon Club for their outstanding effort in bringing this incredible event to life, to the technical officials for ensuring fair and safe competition, and to the volunteer marshals whose enthusiasm and support were crucial in keeping the day running smoothly. Most importantly, we extend our deepest gratitude to all the athletes who competed with determination, passion, and sportsmanship—your hard work and spirit were truly inspiring. Thanks to each of you, the 2025 Youth Championships at Knockburn Loch was a resounding success, and we look forward to seeing even more talent and excitement next year!

Podium winners:

TriStar 1 Female
1st | Summer Ross
2nd | Verity Mackenzie
3rd | Kyla Richardson

TriStar 1 Open
1st | Emrys Morley
2nd | Maverick Souter
3rd | William Hicks

TriStar 2 Female
1st | Iyla Souter
2nd | Iona Macdonald
3rd | Caladh Macdonald

TriStar 2 Open
1st | Eddie Niven
2nd | Zachary Boyd
3rd | Alfie Edwards

TriStar 3 Female
1st | Olivia Lyne
2nd | Ava Smith
3rd | Emi Daunt

TriStar 3 Open
1st | Charlie Lyne
2nd | Cameron Seeley
3rd | Rory Fotheringham

Youth Female
1st | Rachel Caves
2nd | Juliette Kidd
3rd | Emily Langdon

Youth Open
1st | Ross Allan
2nd | Joe Crawford
3rd | Connor Birnie

Full results can be found here