SailLaser Scotland based at Strathclyde Country Park hosted a Tri-Mile Triathlon event in aid of BBC Sport Relief 2010 on 13th March. There was a blustery south-westerly wind blowing on the Loch as 21 young sailors ranging between 7 to 15 years of age took part in the Tri-Mile event. All entrants were from SailLaser’s Onboard Sailing Club, local schools which had taken part in a previous SailLaser’s Community Sail Training Programme and Strathclyde Loch Sailing Club.
The event got off to a smooth start as the competitors working in pairs, set off on their run from the Head Office of SailLaser Scotland, around to the Beach on the far side of the Loch where pedalos were awaiting them.
With gusts whistling through the Pedalo fleet as they crossed the Loch, determination could be clearly seen on the faces of the competitors as they endeavoured to complete the challenge. After mooring the pedalos, it was a quick dash across the pontoon before jumping into their Laser Performance Pico dinghies and heading around a marked course to the finish line.
Callum, Carly and Andrew Leber and Scott Johnston were the event leaders. Towards the end of the course the children were met by a large crowd of supporters and parents who cheered them on to the finish line.
The total money raised on the day of the event was a huge £576.70 – this was above and beyond the amount expected by the SailLaser Team. Robert Mutlow the Centre Manager of SailLaser Scotland added, “The children were amazing with their determination, skill and perseverance to achieve the Tri-Mile and I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped on the day and contributed to the success of the event.”
The same Tri-Mile event was also held by SailLaser’s sister centre at the Portland National Sailing Academy in Weymouth, where 33 participants took part and raised on the day a terrific £1,400.
We all had a lot of fun raising money for the BBC Sport Relief and competing in this unique event for an incredibly worthwhile cause. All money raised by the competitors for the event will go directly to BBC Sports Relief which funds Comic Relief through national sporting events. Comic Relief helps people living incredibly tough lives, both here in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries. One of their main target areas this year for funding is to help the child labourers working on the streets and in factories.