With both Scottish and British age-group medals at stake, athletes from across Great Britain will descend on the small Perthshire market town for the penultimate British Age-Group Championships of the season. The final event on the British calendar, the British Duathlon Championships, will take place at Emberton Country Park on 12 October.

 

Aberfeldy has been hosting middle and long distance triathlon races since 1997, and has doubled as the Scottish National Championships on a number of occasions. It’s become something of a staple of the Scottish multisport calendar, with many of the country’s best-known triathletes getting their first taste of “going long” at the popular event. 

 

Sunday’s race will be the first time the event has hosted the British Championships, much to the delight of long-standing organiser Richard Pearson. “It’s really exciting,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to welcoming 600 athletes to Highland Perthshire. Hopefully we’ll deliver a Championships that will make them want to come back in future years, and that British Triathlon will be proud of.”

 

The Aberfeldy British Middle Distance Championships will be run on the tried-and-tested course Pearson has been using for many years. It features a 1.9 kilometre lap of Loch Tay, a testing 90-kilometre ride through stunning Highland scenery, and an energy-sapping 13-mile run to finish.

 

“There are a couple of good, testing climbs on the bike route,” Pearson says. “It includes a circuit of Loch Rannoch and also heads over the shoulder of the second highest mountain in Perthshire. It’s not a simple route, and it always makes for interesting racing.”

 

Former full-time pro, British Middle Distance champion and Ironman Wales winner Scott Neyedli agrees. “The course is very challenging, so I wouldn’t expect any PBs,” he says. “Aberfeldy does offer one of the most scenic courses in the UK. You have to expect hot, cold and wet weather – you never know whether you’re going to get sunburn or get drenched.”

 

Neyedli, who is expected to battle it out with compatriots Fraser Cartmell, Craig Dale and Peter Fenwick for the men’s title, is naturally delighted that the National Championships are taking place in Scotland. “I have some happy memories of competing at Aberfeldy,” he says. “It was one of the first races I ever competed in when I took up triathlon, and where I won my first national title. Since I raced Ironman UK earlier in the summer I haven’t been able to do an awful lot of training, with work taking priority. I’m keen to have a go all the same, though I would make Fraser favourite.”

 

In the women’s race, all eyes will be on Aberfeldy regular Jennifer Stewart, who Richard Pearson has singled out as ‘one to watch’. “I’m sure Jennifer will be going for the win,” says husband Graeme, who will also be competing. “We both love Aberfeldy and compete every year, even if just for the social side of it.”

 

Once again British Triathlon will be hosting live timing on britishtriathlon.org, so fans can follow the efforts of their friends, family and club mates in Aberfedly.