Do we need a triathlon?

Bruno Baumgärtner sends us this letter, originally sent to Cllr Margie Currie, expressing his opposition to the idea. We have shortened it slightly.

First: there is just no place to accommodate between 1000 and 2000 extra people for one night only (especially not on a Saturday night).

Second: Lamlash Bay might be large enough to accommodate 2000 swimmers. But where would they be able to change and shower?

Third: The cycle course from Lamlash over the Ross to Sliddery and return over the south end meets some of the absolutely worst pieces of road. I used to be engaged in organising cycle races and one of the most important criteria for the races was always first class road conditions; meaning no potholes, no dangerous verges, safety rails at downhill segments – and, most important, an orderly approach for any emergency vehicles. None of these criteria are met at all on that location. The vital tourist route over the south end [will be] closed for a minimum of 6 or 7 hours, which disables the ordinary tourist as well as the residents to do their usual Saturday family shopping.

Fourth: Six-mile-run to Clauchland. To send 2000 (or even ‘only’ 1000) cyclists over the access road and banning residents from using their cars for hours is unacceptable. And what happens if a participant has a stroke? Getting an ambulance to the incident place will be difficult.

Fifth: capacity of the Ferry: 2000 people could be squeezed onto two sailings, but this would demand at least 3 runs for nothing but the athletes. What about the other tourists and the locals who might want to use the ferries too? I doubt if Calmac has the capacity to send us 2 extra boats for that Saturday from morning to evening.

Six: The enthusiasm of the team proposing such an event seems to me to be overwhelming, however their control and knowledge of local facts leave a great margin to be acceptable. The safety aspect has in no single venue been correctly assessed and I do not believe North Ayrshire Council will accept the responsibility if there should be any grave or fatal accident.

Conclusion: Careful consideration urges me to oppose such a project.

Bruno concludes by pointing out that he is a native of Switzerland, where the habit of seeking compromise is strong. He therefore advises a reduced proposition, as follows:

Maximum 200 starters.

NAC to repair the worst pieces of the affected roads.

The organisers to supply emergency people with ambulances from the mainland, all of them having in advance familiarised themselves with Arran conditions.

For NAC, there must be a minimum profit of £1 and absolutely no deficit. All policing and overseeing costs, all overseeing costs must be covered in advance by the organisers.

If such a smaller-scale event could be organised safely and with an acceptable deficit for the organisers, there could be a second test the following year with 500 starters, and possible discussion of an even larger proposal.