In the late 1990s/early 2000s Andy Hinde had a brainwave for a new club event which would be different, inclusive for families, physically challenging and fun.

The Harriers’ triathlon was based at Ingleton Pool and featured a 20 lengths swim, bike round Ingleborough then run up and down the mountain to finish in the park. While the ‘athletes’ competed, families had the run of the pool. The event itself ran for many years (there was even a short film made about it by James Kenyon which featured on TV’s The Adventure Show and may still be on YouTube somewhere?) and although attempts have been made to hold it in the last two years, unfortunately they have floundered, which is a shame.

Like most of my clubmates, the Harriers tri was my first experience of multi-sport. It was a brilliant event, and it got me hooked. I spent a few years having a go at the likes of the Helvellyn Triathlon and the Full Cheese from Hawes. I was drawn to the Craggy Island Tri on the Isle of Kerrera, just off Oban, as it was the main feature on the same episode of The Adventure Show as the Harriers Tri, but despite entering, I never actually made the start line.

In 2023, I decided to scratch the itch that was Craggy Island and finally completed this Scottish classic. I was delighted to qualify for my age group to represent GB at the European Cross Triathlon Championships in Coimbra, Portugal, at the same time. One thing led to another and this June I found myself in Pontevedra, Spain, for the World Cross Triathlon Championships.

Our event was held at a reservoir and consisted of a 1km swim, followed by a fast, hilly and technical mountain bike course of 18 miles and 2900ft ascent. The run was 5 miles and 500ft on trails.
I had hoped for a wetsuit swim, but it was not allowed as the water temp was 25.6C and air temp 27C. I managed to get out of the water in 24th position then onto my favourite discipline, the mtb, where I pushed hard and clawed my way back to seventh. Finally, the run through the forest… I had both our sons, Tom and Harry, as team support which was very uplifting at this point as my legs were starting to cramp! The run was very hard, but I managed to overtake a Brazilian athlete and was very pleased to finish 6th out of 30 and 1st GB in the 55-59 age group.

Now I’m looking forward to doing some more fell running and getting out with the club more. Thank you to everyone who was kind enough to ask how my cross tri adventure went – it was an awesome experience.