TRIATHLETES of all ages and abilities, from all over the country, hit the ground running at the opening 2018 Borders Triathlon Series events in Galashiels last weekend.

Some long-awaited spring-like weather greeted over 200 athletes taking part in the Junior, Come & Try and Sprint Triathlons held over Saturday and Sunday.

Repeating his success of last year, three times Scottish Champion Craig Dale ran in overall winner at Sunday’s main sprint event with John Lenehan and Ruben Villalain in second and third respectively. All three athletes hail from Edinburgh.

Cycling specialist Craig, who completed the 750m swim, 19.14km cycle and 4.66km run in one hour, one minute and 23 seconds, commented: “It has been great coming back down to Gala and winning this title again.”

Craig, a member of the Hartree JETS Triathlon Club spent much of his time training as a doctor at the BGH and admitted that having some local knowledge about the lay of the land benefited his race.

“Conditions were great today and the course was good but it is always a help if you know the area a bit,” he added.

Triathlon first timer Alice Loudon, also from the Hartree club, took the female honours in 1:14:03, just five seconds faster than Ferniegair’s Deborah Comer. Hawick’s Michelle Short ran in third.

Euan Jardine, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Sport, presented the winners with their trophies.

The Series, one of the biggest events of its type in Scotland, is organised and hosted by the Live Borders Sports Development and Leisure Centre teams, with many local running and cycling clubs lending a helping hand on event days.

Galashiels Sprint Triathlon Results

Overall Male: 1, Craig Dale (1 hour 1 minute and 23 seconds); 2, John Lenehan (01:03:34); 3, Ruben Villalain (01:04:28).

Overall Female: 1, Alice Loudon (01:14:03); 2, Deborah Comer (01:14:08); 3, Michelle Short (01:15:22).

First Male Junior: Sam McGrath (01:13:08).

First Male Vet 40: David Fraser (01:05:46).

First Female Vet 40: Deborah Comer (01:14:08).

First Male Vet 50: Robert Hume (01:11:09).

First Female Vet 50: Shona Bathgate (01:18:12).

First Male Vet 60: Eddie Turnbull (01:12:54).

First Female Vet 60: Joyce Mark (01:16:24).

Galashiels Come & Tri Results

Overall Male: 1, Martin Kelly (00:46:03); 2, Andrew Chapman (00:47:02); 3, Graeme Sewell (00:47.24).

Overall Female: 1, Rebecca Lazonby (00:50:04); 2, Kerrie Crisp (00:51:11); Danielle Sewell (00:54:42).

Full results can be found at: https://www.stuweb.co.uk/results.html

The next event in the senior Series will be the Hawick Sprint Triathlon and Come & Try events, hosted by Teviotdale Leisure Centre (01450 3744400), on Sunday, May 6.

Further sprint triathlons in the Series will be held in Selkirk (Sunday, May 20); Eyemouth (Sunday, June 11); Kelso (Sunday, August 13) and Peebles (Sunday, September 4).