SPORTY youngsters braved freezing weather to put their running and biking skills to the test in the annual Beaconhurst Duathlon.

A total of 72 children, from age seven upwards, competed in the gruelling junior race at Stirling University despite the cold conditions.

The event was the fourth duathlon hosted by the independent Bridge of Allan school and participants faced a tough course near the university’s golf course.

The competition involved a run followed by a bike ride and a second run and attracted children from schools across Stirling as well as a team of 10 pupils from Lathallan School in Johnshaven, Angus.

The medal winners had the chance to meet two Olympic hopefuls -triathletes Grant Sheldon and Hannah Howitt - who presented the prizes following the event.

The school’s headteacher Sandra Bannerman said: “Resilience is one of our school values and all the competitors and marshals showed they had plenty of that today.

“Following the race, I had lots of children coming up and saying it was cold but I enjoyed it and that was great to hear.”

She said that Grant and Hannah – who help train the school’s most promising triathletes – also demonstrate the school values of ambition and inspiration.

She said: “They are both training for the 2020 Olympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games and are a real inspiration to everyone here today.”

Beaconhurst’s director of sport Judith Ramsay and PE teacher Colin Turnbull organised the competition with the help of senior Beaconhurst pupils and parents who acted as marshals and timekeepers.

Ms Ramsay was delighted with the turnout and the effort put in by all the competitors – many of whom were taking part in their first duathlon.

She said: “It was a lovely bright morning but very cold and frosty, however, all the competitors coped well and enjoyed their races.

“We were pleased to see so many children from neighbouring schools taking part and were delighted that pupils from Lathallan School travelled all the way from Angus to compete.

“A duathlon is a very tough race and it was great to see the sense of achievement in the faces of the children as they crossed the finish line.”

There were six different age categories for the races beginning with a contest for seven-year-olds, followed by a race for eight-year-olds and ending with a race for competitors aged 15+.

The competitions ranged from a 600m bike ride followed by a 900m run for the seven years old to a 600m run followed by a 900m bike ride and a further 600m run for the eight to 10 year-olds.

The 11and12 year-olds ran 900m, biked 1800m and then ran another 900m while competitors aged 13 and upwards faced a tough race with a 900m run, 2700m bike ride and a final 900m run.

After the races, competitors returned to Beaconhurst for refreshments and a medals ceremony.

The competition was the fourth duathlon organised by Beaconhurst which began hosting community events - based on the popular sport of triathlon – four years ago.

Since then, four aquathlons have also been held at Stirling University with a fifth planned for next year.