THE Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond were were lined with passionate fans for the 2017 Scottish Aquathlon Championships – where hard work, effort and plenty of local support got the hardy competitors across the finish line.

The seventh Scottish National Championships of the 2017 season, the Scottish National Aquathlon Championships, was hosted by Lomond Swimming and Triathlon Club on Saturday, July 29, and is an event which is part of the Beastie Triathlon Festival, held at Balloch Castle.

The race, which attracted 100 competitors, began at 9.30am with a one wave deep water start.

Although 2016 champion Cameron Harris wasn’t present, Stirling-based brothers Douglas Roberts and Fergus Roberts (both Triathlon Scotland Development Squad / Yonda Racing) and Lewis Strachan (Pro Endurance) ensured it was a fast and furious male race.

In the women’s race, three times Scottish National Aquathlon Champion, Natalie Milne (formerly Kinross, now based in Edinburgh) was again going for gold, with Julie Nimmo (Triathlon Scotland Development Squad / University of Stirling Triathlon Club) ready to challenge.

Both athletes are exceptional swimmers but on the comeback trail from injury.

The 750m swim began and the athletes surged through the water in a shore hugging out and back loop.

Douglas Roberts smashed his way through the rough waters, exiting first in 9mins 1sec, followed by Strachan, 35 seconds behind Roberts in 9mins 36secs and only three seconds ahead of Fergus Roberts.

Milne and Nimmo swam neck and neck, with Milne taking the edge and exiting the swim in 10mins 3secs.

As she charged to transition, Nimmo was hot on her heels, only one second behind.

Becky Storrie (Triathlon England and Manx Triathlon Club member) was third out of the water in 10mins 44secs and the third place Championship challenger, Cliona Ferguson (Stirling Triathlon Club) was close behind and out of the water in 10mins 45secs.

A quick change in transition, and Douglas Roberts held his lead around the two lap 5km course, thundering across the line in a time of 26mins 28secs (run time 17mins 3secs).

Fergus Roberts, however, had the fastest run of the race, charging past Strachan early into the run to finish second in a time of 26mins 55secs (run time 16mins 38secs). Strachan was third in 28mins 58secs (run time 18mins 54secs).

In the women’s race, Milne, leading from start to finish, enjoyed a fourth Scottish Aquathlon Championships victory, running home in 19mins 37secs to record an overall time of 30mins 12secs.

Second place overall was Storrie in 31mins 24secs and third was Nimmo in 31mins 44secs.

As Storrie is a member of Triathlon England, and fourth place Phoebe Lloyd-Evans also a member of Triathlon England, Nimmo took Scottish silver and Cliona Ferguson bronze in a time of 32mins 22secs.

Douglas Roberts said: “It was really tough, but I was really motivated to win here after coming both second and third at the Scottish Aquathlon Championships the past few years.

“It was a choppy swim where I pushed the pace hard to the first buoy to create a gap which I knew would be vital going on to the run.“My brother Fergus kept me on my toes and pushed me all the way to the line and I just managed to hold on for the win.

“It was a great feeling to collect another Scottish Championship title [Roberts is the current Scottish National Sprint Triathlon Champion] after last weekend’s disappointing result at the World Cup in Hungary and it was fun to race my brother again.”

Milne was also very happy with her race and said: “I had a really good race, the swim was cold and choppy but was great to be in such a stunning location as Loch Lomond.

“The run course was different to 2015, the last time I raced here, which made it fun as the terrain you were running on was never consistent and so was challenging.”

Triathlon Scotland would like to thank Lomond Swimming and Triathlon Club.