Athletes braved chilly waters, cycled for kilometres and ran their hearts out during the sixth annual Barkmen tournament at Furlong Bay on Lakelse Lake July 3.
Despite lower than normal numbers, the triathlon drew in participants from Prince George, Burns Lake, Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Terrace.
Event organizer Crystal Thomas said there were some concerns regarding the temperature of the water for the swimming portion, as the waters of Lakelse Lake were a concerning 13.6 degrees.
This temperature was cutting it pretty close explained Thomas, as below 13 degrees becomes too cold for swimming.
For those not interested in swimming there was a duathlon category, which included two runs broken up with a cycling portion.
“People came and had fun despite the weather,” Thomas said, adding that they were lucky enough to escape any rain during the event.
Thomas attributes the lower number of 20 participants to the cold spring and summer, which may have hampered people’s training this year.
Winners were awarded “Barkman” trophies, hand crafted and donated by local carver Rick Goyette.
Thomas expressed her appreciation for all of the volunteers who came out to help.
“I think we have a really great crew of people who come out and make that happen,” she said.
Two draws were also made at the event for two flight tickets with Hawkair.
The winner for the men’s open category was Kitimat’s Matt Reeve who swam 1500 m in 11:04, cycled 40 km in 1:08:29 and ran 10 km in 40:23 for
an overall time of 1:59:58
Mike Miller from Prince George won the male masters. Miller swam in 23:32, cycled in 1:35:19 and ran at a time of 1:21:47 for an overall time of 3:20:39.
The female masters event was won by Terrace’s Sherrie Hamer who came in with a time of 19:00 in the swim portion, 2:37:18 in the cycle portion and 52:23 in the 10 km run.
In the female duathlon, Meghan Sinclair from Terrace came in with a time of 26:31 on the first 5km run, 1:23:50 in the 40 km cycle portion and 27: 12 in the final 5km run for an overall time of 2:17:36.
In the men’s duathlon it was Ernest Hidber from Terrace who took the top spot with a time of 26:31 in the first run, 1:20:05 in the cycle portion, and 27:14 in the last run and a time of 2:11:00 overall.
In the female open it was Marika Jurgens from Prince George who won with a time of 13:35 in a 750 metre swim, 40:25 in a 20 km bike ride and 24:18 in a final 5 km run and 1:18:18 overall.
Hendrik Dreyer from Prince George won the male masters with a time of 17:16 in the 750 metre swim, 38:47 on the 20 km bike ride, 25:10 on the 5 km run and 1:21:14 overall.