Peebles: Iain Veitch defends title after The Roc Wales win

Triathlete Iain Veitch, from Peebles, won the most recent event of the Roc Trilogy in Wales.

The Roc Trilogy will take place in September, however, last weekend's spring spectacle saw athletes complete the unique triathlon at Abersoch and Snowden.

On Saturday, May 13, athletes swam 1.5km at Abersoch, rode 49.5km by bike to Snowden, ran 12km over the tallest mountain in Wales, then biked a further 49.5km before running the final 1km along Abersoch beach.

Veitch, who completed the event in 4:31:35, said he was delighted with his result.

Iain ascending Snowden (Image: EILIR)

He said: "Training has been a bit patchy with the recent arrival of our third child – my wife Jo has been brilliant about letting me train as much as I have – and Peebles pool being out of commission.

"Each year the competition also gets better.

"I went there hoping for a solid performance for Trilogy points so [it] was better than expected.

"The run is the jewel in the crown of this race.

"The course is brutally steep but breathtaking up and down the Watkin Path.

"I managed to secure a slim lead by the top.

"The technical descent allowed me to pull ahead further and have a larger buffer going onto the final bike."

Iain (centre) celebrates defending his The Roc Wales title (Image: Josh Boyd)

The Roc Trilogy consists of the same events as last weekend, but begins on September 2 at Windermere and Scafell Pike, followed by Abersoch and Snowden on September 16, and ending at Glencoe and Ben Nevis on October 7.

Looking ahead to the Trilogy in September, Iain said: "It's a brilliant series format taking in all the highest peaks in UK mainland.

"I'm really looking forward to the Scottish leg.

"This should be a real highlight with off-road biking and the run up Ben Nevis."

This Saturday (May 27) Iain will take on the run/bike/run at Kielder Darkathalon.