IRISH eyes were smiling on Edinburgh Athletics Club member John Lenehan on Sunday when he lifted the fourth title of the Live Borders Triathlon Series at Eyemouth.

Over 100 entrants arrived at the town’s leisure centre on a largely dry but breezy morning to take part in either the main Sprint Triathlon or the popular Come & Tri event.

Having been runner-up to Hartree JETS man Craig Dale at all three of the previous events in this year’s series - Galashiels, Hawick and Selkirk - Lenehan, who hails from Ireland, was in a determined mood as he paid his first visit to Eyemouth.

He told us: “I really enjoyed competing here for the first time today, it really is a beautiful setting.

“The course itself was quite testing, there was quite a steep hill on the cycle and a strong wind to contend with and it was the same coming back along the harbour on the run.

“I stuck in though and managed to maintain a gap and secure my first Borders win of the season.”

Of the many athletes taking part in Sunday’s event Eyemouth’s own Joyce Mark was possibly one of the most celebrated and she duly rewarded her home town supporters by taking the Female Vet 60 title in a time of one hour 21 minutes and 58 seconds.

“I really enjoyed that today and couldn’t fault the course, it’s nice to compete at home,” said Mark, who came second in her age group at the British Championships in Leeds the previous weekend to qualify for the European Championships next year.

“I still really enjoy competing and like to keep my options open in terms of how long I will continue for,” she added.

A former European and World age group champion, Joyce was also presented with the David Williams Memorial Trophy, for the first Eyemouth athlete home, for the ninth time on Sunday.

Live Borders Duty Manager Kathryn Robertson thanked everyone who took part and helped out at the event while Club Sport Berwickshire Chair David Douglas presented the trophies.

The Borders Triathlon Series is run by charitable trust Live Borders.

Eyemouth Sprint Triathlon Results

Male Overall: 1, John Lenehan (1 hour 6 minutes and 58 seconds); 2, James Addie (01:10:37); 3, Craig Goldie (01:12:30).

Female Overall: 1, Jo Phillips (01:16:06); 2, Sarah Scott (01:18:33); 3, Michelle Short (01:18:54).

First Male Junior: Sam McGrath (01:14:41).

First Female Junior: Jessica Clark (01:34:21).

First Senior Male: John Lenehan (01:06:58).

First Senior Female: Sarah Scott (01:18:33).

First Male Vet 40: Craig Goldie (01:12:30).

First Female Vet 40: Jo Phillips (01:16:06).

First Male Vet 50: William Morrison (01:22:10).

First Female Vet 50: Shona Bathgate (01:21:19).

First Male Vet 60: Eddie Turnbull (01:17:50).

First Female Vet 60: Joyce Mark (01:21:58).

Come & Tri Result

1st Male, Martin Kelly (44 minutes 26 seconds); 1st Female, Emma Whale 55:01.

Full results can be found at: https://www.stuweb.co.uk/results.html.

The next event in the senior Series will be the Kelso Sprint Triathlon and Come & Try events, hosted by Kelso Swimming Pool (01573 229 944), on Sunday, August 19.

Kelso Sprint Triathlon

Distances: 750m swim, 22.9km cycle and 5.66km run.

Start time: Sprint start time 9.00am. Race registration 7.00am to 8.35am.

Kelso Come & Tri

Distances: 400m swim, 11.68km cycle and 2.84km run.

Start time: Come & Tri start time 9.00am. Race registration 7.00am

For further information email triathlon@liveborders.org.uk