Exciting newcomers in as first Orkney triathletes named
Amy Critchlow has delayed her retirement and will now be lending valuable experience to an otherwise developmental women’s triathlon team at the Orkney 2025 Island Games.
Having earned pre-selection following her individual bronze at Guernsey 2023, which she had claimed to be her final Games, the successful veteran features among a squad of four who will be defending the island’s title in the women’s team event.
These four women – plus Thierry Le Cheminant – have been named following the usual selection race at Rocquaine, but this time the full squad will not be unveiled until after a back-up men’s qualifier next April.
Among the women, Linsday Sword won the Rocquaine selection race and has been awarded with her first Games place.
Converted swimmer Hannah Kennedy will be racing her first Games triathlon after making impressive strides last season, competing at national junior level and showing her worth locally by finishing top five overall – including men – on her Olympic distance debut at Pembroke.
Chloe Truffitt has continued to race at a high level in the UK and recently represented Great Britain’s age-group teams at the World Triathlon Championships.
She completes a women’s squad that team manager Alan Rowe speaks highly of.
‘We are delighted to have confirmed the first wave of selections,’ he said.
‘It is particularly exciting to add Hannah and Lindsay to the team – it will be Lindsay’s first Island Games – and alongside Amy and Chloe, makes for a very powerful team.’
However, Megan Chapple has declined to defend her individual title from Guernsey 2023, as has male professional Josh Lewis.
This means only Rocquaine winner Le Cheminant has so far been picked for the men’s team.
As most of the island’s leading men missed the selection race through other commitments, organisers are now staging a final qualifying event at Rocquaine on the weekend of 12-13 April 2025 – which will also feature several junior contenders.
It is intended that the first five hopefuls across the line will complete a 10-strong triathlon squad.
But, given estimated water temperatures in early spring, organisers are halving the swim to 750m. This ties in with expectations for Orkney.
‘We are expecting the swim to be cut short in Orkney, because I don’t think they will be able to do a long swim [due to temperatures],’ Guernsey Triathlon Club president Emily Squire said.
Rowe added: ‘2024 was a complicated year for many of the hopefuls – not being able to compete at the designated selection event, and other head-to-head performances were inconclusive.
‘The additional qualifying event opens the door for a competitive process to get into the team, and I believe will invigorate it.
‘It should be an exciting race.’
