BARRY’S BAY – Warm temperatures and dedicated volunteers helped make the 20th annual Barry’s Bay Triathlon and Duathlon a success on July 1.
That morning, 100 triathlon participants and 25 duathlon athletes met at the lakeshore in Barry’s Bay to take part in the annual event. It was founded by David Field, a resident of Barry’s Bay who continues to take part in duathlons and triathlons worldwide.
Mark Gunner has been the race director for years and said this will likely be his last. The committee will soon begin looking for a replacement.
As the buzzer sounded at 9:00 a.m., the triathletes plunged into the chilly Kamaniskeg waters to take part in the 750 metre swim.
It was Cobden’s Tristan Woodfine who made it out of the water first with an impressive time of 10 minutes and 41 seconds. In sheer seconds, he made it out of his wetsuit and onto his bike to start the 32 kilometre bike ride around the Valley.
Woodfine’s lead was lost during the bike race to Kevin Willis of Ottawa, who had the fastest bike time.
But Woodfine picked up speed in the final leg of the race; the eight kilometre run. He managed to complete the run in 25:42, crossing the finish line with a total race time of 1:30:03.
Kevin Willis of Ottawa came in second overall with a time of 1:34:51, and Chris Inch of Deep River was third with a time of 1:36:43.
In the women’s category, Kristen Bridges of Pembroke crossed the finish line with a time of 1:47:20. Bridges dominated the women’s category in the Barry’s Bay Triathlon last year as well. Claude Dreano of Ottawa took second place and Lauren Heinken of Mississauga came in third.
The following triathlon participants won in their respective age categories:
Women one to 19 – Emma Cooper of Eganville. Women 20-24 – Lauren Heinken of Mississauga. Women 25-29 – Jacquelyn MacGregor of Beachburg. Women 30-34 – Kathy Rowbotham of Shelburne. Women 35-39 – Kristen Bridges of Pembroke. Women 40-44 – Jennifer Hyde from Harcourt. Women 45-49 – Jodi Brennan of Merrickville. Women 50-54 – Kim Harvey of Nepean. Women 55-59 – Catherine Spence of Campbellville.
Men one to 19 – Tristan Woodfine of Cobden. Men 20-24 – Jake Wolosayn. Men 25-29 Chris Inch of Deep River. Men 30-34 – Joe Rogers of Ottawa. Men 35-39 Fraser Gill of Chalk River. Men 40-44 – Ming-Chang Tsai of Toronto. Men 45-49 – Tony Biernacki of Pembroke. Men 50-54 – Kevin Willis of Ottawa. Men 55-59 David Field of Barry’s Bay. Men 60-64 – Robert B. Howe of Barry’s Bay.
The triathlon relay had one person from a team team tackling each individual race. It was the Blackfish Bay Trio men’s team that came in first with a time of 1:58:08. Next was Team Worg and then the Active Waste Men of Toronto.
In the women’s division, team RCSI of Barry’s Bay came in first. The Merrill Team took second and Fifty is the New Thirty came in third.
Meanwhile, at the same time the triathlon was taking place, the duathlon was also well underway. It started with the athletes taking part in a 2.2 kilometre run.
Story continues in teh July 4 issue of The Valley Gazette.