FLEET FEET TRIATHLETES – A Brief History.

In 1983, Stonehaven near Aberdeen became the first town in Scotland to boast a triathlon club (East Kilbride will probably disagree!!). John O’Donovan, Arthur Stewart and Ginny Pollard amongst others shocked locals in their tight lycra outfits and started what is now the country’s biggest club combining running, cycling and…canoeing! Yes, most of the races organised at that time did not feature a swim and these founder members were established canoeists (JOD for example having paddled at the Olympics). Others joined the club to train for Andrew Manwell’s Highland Triathlons.  The Deeside Triathlon from Braemar to Aberdeen had been started in 1982 and FFT later took over its organisation. It remains to this day a canoeist’s triathlon, though there is now also a duathlon option. Sports science was in its infancy but club member John Gordon decided to calculate the total number of calories he would burn on this long-distance race and do some carbo loading. As the race started at 6.30am in Braemar he got up at 4am and ate ten Mars Bars – I’m not sure whether his tactics paid off.  Arthur Stewart meanwhile attempted a different dietary regime for the Loch Tay Triathlon.  He had a theory that you should fast for 24hours before the race!!  Those were the days of honey sandwiches and bakewell slices in the transitions.  But it was still serious stuff – if that sandwich was in the wrong place the poor supporters knew about it.  Oh yes, you needed supporters.  Logistics were a nightmare with bikes and canoes having to be transported.  Races meant sociable weekends away with Aberfeldy and the Loch Tay area being a frequent venue long before it became home to the STA’s training weekends.

Winter weight training and circuit training sessions at the Green Hut coached by John “half way” O’Donovan were soon also attended by budding cyclist Sarah Phillips.   Sarah competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics but is sadly no longer able to race since being knocked off her bike. She is now a BCU coach and organises the club’s Turbo sessions, which are regularly attended by over 30 riders.

Gradually Tuesday night swim sessions and the hugely successful Winter Series (started in 1986 and aimed at introducing novices to the sport) attracted more swimmers and brought a more orthodox angle to FFT. Formal committee meetings took over from the informal ones on a Friday night down at the Marine!!

Club members have taken part in numerous national and international competitions beginning in New York in 1987 with the US Duathlon Championships where JO’D and Ginny raced round Central Park in Scottish colours.  They returned with the first Scott bars into the country, the first of many triathlon innovations to hit the cycling fraternity.  1988 saw a Scottish Team, including JO’D, Andrew Johnston and Scott Riach, race in the first European Tri Champs in Venice.  1989 brought the inaugural ITU World Triathlon Champs to Avignon with Ginny in GB elite and JO’D an age grouper. 1990 and triathlon appeared as a demonstration sport in the Auckland Commonwealth Games with FFT providing almost half of the team: Ginny, JO’D, Andrew Johnston and Geoff Buchan. The ‘90’s saw further GB elite representation from both Ginny and Jacqui Shand at World and European levels and in Olympic and half ironman distances. 

The club was expanding now on the back of its successes with JOD, Ginny and Jacqui Shand all Scottish Champions at various times.  In 1992 FFT were officially the best club in Britain at Olympic and Middle-distance triathlons.

Several members went on to represent GB in their age groups at the World Triathlon or Duathlon Championships:  JO’D, Ginny, Jacqui, Janice Borland, Mary McKean, Gill White, Neil MacRae, Nelly Shand, Ian Diack, Max Williamson (apologies if anybody has been omitted).  Members represented Scotland in Inter Regional Championships and Home Internationals in Junior, Senior and Veteran categories. 

Some young blood joined the club in the mid 90`s - Bella Comerford, who took part in the Manchester Commonwealth Games and more recently has had outstanding victories in the Embrun and Florida Ironman Races and Charles Milne who has represented Scotland at the Home Nations Duathlon Champs in Ireland.

FFT have also been represented in Multisport/ Extreme/ Endurance races – Rachel Gordon in the Xterra race, a strong challenge from a four man team in the Kielder Ace Race and Ginny still holds the record in the Highland Cross.

FFT organise a huge number of races including the popular Novice Winter and Summer Series Races, the Aberdeen Standard Triathlon, the Deeside Tri/Duathlon, a Kids Triathlon and until last year the Aboyne Middle Distance (Half Ironman) Race.

In 1993 the club had over a hundred members many of who were racing frequently. Many self confessed non-triathletes come to the excellent training sessions due to the enthusiasm and encouragement of the coaches and Stonehaven must benefit with a high proportion of fit folk (it’s not called ‘the fit toon’ for nothing).  Membership had grown to 140 by the time JOD handed over the reigns of head coach to Carol Mclaren when his work took him to live in Gabon. She has helped train up new level 1 coaches to spread the workload. 

It would be nice to see more people racing and to know how to attract more youngsters into our sport but things have changed so quickly over the short life of Triathlon who knows what may be round the corner.

Organised Training Sessions are:

Monday and Friday circuit sessions

Tuesday swim session

Wednesday cycling (road cycle in summer and Turbo training session in the winter)

Saturday morning runs and

Sunday cycle for those who have any energy left.