A Peebles triathlete, Iain Veitch, has described his second-place finish at the gruelling Celtman extreme triathlon in Scotland as “bittersweet”. Veitch battled tough conditions in the race, which is centered around the majestic Torridon mountains. The Celtman involves a challenging 3.5km swim in the frigid Loch Shieldaig, followed by a punishing 200km bike ride across demanding Highland roads. The final test? A 42km run over two 'munros' (mountains over 3,000 feet).
Veitch's impressive time of 11 hours, 13 minutes, and 49 seconds wasn't quite enough to secure the top spot, with Fergus Roberts claiming victory with a time of 10:50:18. Despite missing out on first place, Veitch remains positive.
“The race was a totally different experience to last year. Last year I had broken my back three months before and training had gone poorly,” Veitch said. “This year, training had gone well.”
He described the swim as “super cold and riddled with jellyfish,” but admitted he enjoyed it. Veitch emerged from the water in approximately ninth place, facing the “stunning but brutal” bike ride. “The mountain run seems to get all the plaudits for savagery but in my opinion, the bike is where the damage is done,” he explained. “It's 20k longer than a typical iron man, the road surfaces are less than ideal and the wind invariably hits you head on throughout.”
Veitch's strong performance on the bike allowed him to gain ground on his rivals. After the transition, he trailed the leader by approximately eight minutes. By the 30km mark, he had moved into the top two, but the gap had widened slightly to 10 minutes. However, by the 100km mark, the gap began to shrink. With 40km remaining, Veitch seized the lead, ultimately finishing the bike leg with a three-minute advantage.
This incredible feat of endurance is a testament to Veitch's dedication and resilience. While the victory eluded him this time, his performance is undoubtedly a source of pride for Peebles and the entire South African sporting community.