Cymraeg On Easter Sunday over 140 people from all over the UK gathered early at Dwyfor Leisure Centre to participate in the Pwllheli Triathlon.
The sun was shining and spring had definetly arrived in Llŷn with friends and families taking advantage of the glorious weather and the holidays to create a great atmosphere. Competitors had to swim 400 meters, cycle 20 kilometers before running 5 kilometers to finish back at Dwyfor Leisure Centre.
After all the preperations Oliver Blake from Oswestry won the men’s race with Arthur Connell from Bethesda in second place. Lindsay Griffiths was crowned the women’s race winner. Non Harries from Llandudno and Thomas Aldous from GOG Triathlon Club was victorius in the junior age group while Malcolm Harrison also of GOG Triathlon Club was first over the line in the over 60 age group.
Oliver Blake, who competes for the OOTri Club in Oswestry and who was visiting Pwllheli for the first time says: “This was a great first event of the season. The bike ride was a really nice and scenic route, not that I had much time to notice it and look at the view! It’s a great event for athletes like myself who want a decent time or a warm up event as well as for novice triathletes. I will be here again next season and I’ll probably be back on holidays if the weather is always like this!”
John Lloyd Williams from Caernarfon who came second in the team event with his son Owain Llwyd says: “ This was our first time competing and it’s such a great feeling to take part in something like this. The location is also so beautiful that you cannot fail to enjoy it.”
David Hughes, Plas Heli’s Community Development Officer and organiser of the Pwllheli Triathlon says: “It would not be possible to organise an event like this one without the support of our sponsors GHJ Civil Engineering, Harlech Food Service, Spar Pwllheli, Firmhelm Boatyard, the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and all the volunteers. It gives me such a pleasure to see everyone, competitors, friends, families and volunteers enjoying themselves on such a great day. We can only hope that we have this same great weather in June for the first ever Llŷn Coastal Sportive.”
