By Jennifer Hyland
Copyright dailyrecord
A mum of three has made history as the first Scot to complete the world’s toughest triathlon. Lyndsey Blair finished the -gruelling Enduroman Arch 2 Arc Challenge on September 11 in 95 hours and 11 minutes. Lyndsey, 44, from Troon, battled through an 87-mile run from London to Dover, a 19-hour Channel swim and a 181-mile cycle to Paris. Fewer than 70 athletes have ever finished. Her feat has raised more than £18,000 for Ayrshire Cancer Support and -Hospitality Action. Lyndsey, whose family operate hospitality group Buzzworks, said: “This challenge was never just about me, but about raising money and awareness for two charities that do incredible work for people when they need it most. “As a mum, I also wanted to show my kids that if you set your mind to do -something and work hard, even the biggest challenges can be possible. “Becoming the first Scot to finish the Arch 2 Arc is something I’ll always be proud of, but what matters most is he difference this will make for the charities.” Ayrshire Cancer Support provides vital services to cancer patients and their families, and Hospitality Action, which provides training, employment and wellbeing support for people looking to build careers in the industry. The Arch 2 Arc pushes athletes through three extreme stages: an 87-mile run from Marble Arch in London to Dover, a solo swim across the English Channel, and finally, a 181-mile cycle from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Lyndsey’s swim proved to be the defining test. After almost 23 hours on foot to reach Dover, she began what should have been a 21-mile Channel crossing. Unpredictable tides and winds of up to 17 knots turned it into a gruelling 80km effort lasting more than 19 hours – almost double the expected distance. The ultra-endurance athlete trained for months in preparation for the course and was joined by a support team consisting of her husband Kenny, who runs hospitality business Buzzworks, her niece and training partner, Beth Barclay, Andy Callachan and David Watt from Callachans Health, and Enduroman official, Jon Cowell. Paying tribute to crew who kept her going throughout, she added: “I could never have done this without the team around me. “That’s what kept me putting one foot in front of the other.” Don’t miss the latest Ayrshire headlines sign up to our free daily newsletter
