In addition to the novice and sprint events the 2008 triathlon also featured a swim-and-run 'aquathon' event for primary seven pupils and those in first year at the Academy, with 13 brave and promising participants taking part in this.

The field was the largest yet for the annual event, stretching Rothesay Leisure Pool's capacity to its limit, with some 85 people travelling from the mainland, many returning having taken part in years gone by: the combination of excellent cycle routes, a well laid out running circuit and charming and helpful pool staff attracting a wide mix of ages and abilities, with the oldest competitor aged 72 and the youngest just ten.

In addition to the hardened triathlon club members there were many trying the event for the first time, with a good number of locals taking part and lots of friends and family to cheer them on.

This year there were three teams from the Bute dental fraternity, as well as numerous teams from the Academy staff and a triumphant TSC team; the local Jackson family distributed themselves across three teams, while four local guys tested themselves in the sprint event, with Academy PE teacher Robert Templeton the first home in one hour, 20 minutes and 21 seconds, and 16-year-old pupil Calum MacPhail not too far behind.

The first local male home in the novice event was Shaun Lyon in 40:03, who must surely be looking at greater challenges next year, while the first local female back over the High Street line was a smiling Tara Timms in 1:01:08.

The first local teams in sprint and novice respectively were Team TSC (Fiona Zavaroni, Frazer Crawford and Justin Tait) in 1:20:54 and the team of Jennifer Shaw, Mark Strong and Audrey Kinloch in 44:25.

Outside the pool observers were treated to a great spectacle, with people going in all directions, cones and tape, railings and signs, marshals of all descriptions, scaffold for racking bikes, a marquee and tent along with Red Cross volunteers just in case. And what a buffet afterwards!

This year's Calum Speirs Memorial Triathlon Trophy, presented to a participant who made an outstanding effort in some way, was presented to Academy pupil Joe Livingstone, who was awarded the annual trophy for his fabulous performance in the aquathon event.

This year the organisers decided to donate any profits made from the event to the Robin Sprowl Play Frame fund-raising effort. Putting this event on is heavily reliant on lots of local assistance, requiring loads of human-power involving marshals, baking, spot prizes, and general goodwill - thanks from the organisers from all who helped.

Full results will soon be available online (probably on the British Triathlon Federation website), but the notable finishers were as follows.

Aquathon - 1 Joe Livingston (S1), 13min 6sec; 2, Alison Shaw (S1), 16:00; 3, Maggie Catlin (P7, age 10), 16:27.
Sprint, male overall: 1 Steven Gammack, 1:11:29; 2 Gordon McNab, 1:12:01. Female overall: 1 Ingrid Hansen, 1:12:14, 2 Karen Glendinning, 1:12:37.
Veteran, male: 1 Ian Thurlbeck, 1:14:11. Veteran female: 1 Kay McWilliam, 1:20:01. Supervet/vintage: 1 Jack Davis, 1:24:07.
Sprint, team: 1 Team TSC, 1:20:54.
Novice, male overall: 1 Christopher Blake 39:37; 2 Shaun Lyon 40:03. Female overall: 1 Rheanna Sloss, 42:21; 2 Emma Lang, 43:44.
Veteran, male: 1 Liam McGurk, 43:47. Veteran female: Caroline Fagan, 54:21.
Novice, team: 1 The Inlaws, 42:31.
Junior male: 1 Kieran Whiston, 40:27. Junior female: Jennifer Blake, 50:57.