PEEBLES triathlete Iain Veitch has finished the season off in style with victory in the Craggy Island triathlon.

This totally unique event takes place on the the Scottish mainland near Oban to the island of Kerrera where the MTB bike and hill run take place.

The organiser Durty Events are known for putting on tough, well run races. And this year the race was a longer/tougher version and had attracted the Scottish off road triathlon champion and other young talent.

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Iain said: “The 900m sea swim from the mainland to Kerrera was cold and very choppy with high winds.

“I think this actually helped me as it slowed some of the elite swimmers a little who don't like those conditions.

“I'm not so fast but quite like brutal conditions. Coming into the first transition I could see the leaders only just leaving and I was in about 15th place.

“The MTB bike course is a tough 18km lap of almost all terrain types around the entire island. No tarmac in sight and despite some sections being totally flooded a really fun route.

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“By the half way point I had managed to catch and pass the chap who had won the Scottish champs a couple of weeks prior and by the end was a few seconds behind the leader.

“The run is 9km slog of a hill run with a fast rolling finish. The first 3.5k is uphill to the peak of the highest point on Carn Breugach island with little or no actual trails to follow.

“The views however are stunning with the route passing castles, going through sea caves and affording views across to the mainland.

“After initially making a hash of transition from the bike and losing some time I made good progress on the big climb and had taken the lead at the summit. I

“t was then just a case of maintaining that to the end. Overall it was brilliant fun and a great way to finish off the season. “