Tulloch looking forward to Melmerby challenge

NEW GLASGOW – Kevin Tulloch is among local athletes getting ready for the annual triathlon Sunday at Melmerby Beach.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Tulloch, who competed at an iron triathlon on July 1 in Dartmouth, where he placed fourth overall, was top male finisher and first in his age group from 45 to 49.
“My swim was beyond my expectations, my cycling was not what I expected and the run was tough,” he said.
The local event has gone through another name change from the Highland Challenge to the Pictou County YMCA triathlon most recently and is now being called the Melmerby Triathlon to honour a ship that wrecked along the beach more than a century ago.
The Melmerby was loaded with wood from Quebec when it encountered a storm. All but one of its 16 crew drowned. Its wreck remained visible long enough for the beach to be named after it.
Ryan MacDonald of New Glasgow successfully defended his 2010 win last year, while Adrian Burrill of Pictou was second.
Four categories will be featured Sunday when the triathlon starts at 8:30 a.m.
Tulloch, MacDonald and Burrill are among those who test the Olympic distance that consists of a 1,500 metre swim, 40-kilometre bike route and 10-kilometre run.
There is also a sprint with distances that are half those of the Olympic triathlon.
A super sprint has a 300 metre swim, 8-K bike ride and 2-K run.
A Try a Tri is a non-competitive event to help introduce people to the sport. Its distances are the same as those for the super sprint.
The kids’ triathlon is also scheduled for Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at Melmerby.
Distances for those up to seven years of age include a 50 metre swim, 1,500 metre bike route and 500 metre run.
For those aged eight and nine, there is a 100 metre swim, 5-K bike distance and 1.5-K run.
For those aged 10 to 12, it’s a 150 metre swim, 10-K bike distance and two-kilometre run.
The kids’ events are non-competitive and not timed.