Barry’s Bay Triathlon

Melissa Botz hugs competitor Grace Tansley 

Over 50 competitors in all age categories turned out in fine weather to compete in the 2018 Barry’s Bay Triathlon on July 8. The annual event is now 25 years strong thanks to stellar work every year by more than 45 community volunteers. The race course includes a 750m swim in Kamaniskeg Lake, a 32km cycle on paved roads through the Madawaska Valley and an 8km run. Triathlon competitors do all three segments of the course and duathlon competitors omit the swim section. The Barry’s Bay triathlon and duathlon events are open to both solo competitors and relay teams. Click HERE for this year’s results courtesy Sports Stats Canada. Thanks to generous event sponsorship from businesses, community organizations and the municipality, Barrys Bay Triathlon race organizers were also able to hand out goodie bags to all competitors and reward volunteers.

Every year volunteers act as course marshalls, lifeguards, kayakers and safety boat drivers. They handle registration, body marking and food service. They staff water stations at points along the course. And it’s the volunteers who do the set-up and tear down of the race course. Competitors told The Current they were grateful to the volunteers for not only doing their  assigned jobs but also for providing encouragement along the race route as they cheer on the competitors. Every volunteer gets a race t-shirt, free food, drinks, and the satisfaction of knowing that they helped out at a great community event.

Volunteer Alex Glofcheskie shows off his race t-shirt.

(Clockwise from above left) Supporters gather at the beach; event organizer Elser Lee Archer with Erica Atfield and Melissa Botz; volunteers, supporters and competitors mingle after the face and enjoy refreshments at the tennis clubhouse.

(From left) Solo competitors Bonita Cheng and Marshall Chester; Grace Tansley with Ed Smith.

Solo Triathlon competitors Bonita Cheng and Marshall Chester entered the event based on word-of-mouth recommendations from competitors at a similar event in Petawawa. They were especially enthusiastic about enjoying the swim segment in Kamaniskeg Lake.

The Triathlon Relay event attracted mens, womens and co-ed teams including the Footloose And Fancy Three team (above from left) Stefi van Wijk, Janet Adams, Maureen Lepinskie  (Photo: Mark Willmer)

Triathlon competitors Peter Hass, Michael Berman and David Arevalo give Current readers a graphic demonstration of how they felt half-way through the Barry’s Bay Triathlon (left) and at the finish line (centre). All three look forward to next year’s event.

As Arevalo says,

We’ve gotta do this again next year!