Double honour for Ayro athletes

Jun 15 2012 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

AYRODYNAMIC Triathlon Club celebrated an Olympic double on Friday.

It was a proud occasion for the club as two of its members were chosen to carry the Olympic torch through the streets of Ayrshire.

Kilmarnock man and Ayrodynamic member Gregor Grant was nominated to carry the torch through his home town.

Over the years superfit Gregor, 42, has been a major contributor in teams which have raised significant amounts of money for charities.

In 2005 Gregor travelled to Tibet to join an expedition to climb Mount Shishapangma. Shishapangma is located in south-central Tibet and is five kilometres from the border with Nepal.

The mountain is 26,289 ft high and is the 14th highest mountain in the world. Climbing to raise money for Scope, a UK disability charity that supports disabled people and their families, Gregor and his team raised £150,000.

In 2009 Gregor cycled 874 miles from Lands End to John o’ Groats which raised a huge amount of money for the Jane Tomlinson appeal.

Gregor was also nominated for his commitment and dedication to sport and has overcome health issues to excel in Ironman Triathlon, recording Ayrodynamic’s only sub 10 hour time.

Gregor said: “It was an honour to run with the Olympic Torch in my home town. To see Kilmarnock come together and rally on such an occasion was an exhilarating and emotional experience.”

Earlier in the day, fellow Ayro member Graeme Strawhorn, carried the torch through Maidens and delighted the crowds by doing a highland fling.

Graeme was nominated by a colleague at the Ayrshire Hospice who said: “Graeme is a great ambassador for the hospice and goes above and beyond the call of duty in his role as fundraiser, making significant efforts to ensure that everyone he is involved with has a real positive experience of the hospice and that their contribution is valued and recognised.

“Graeme displays a very admirable sensitivity and compassion in his work with the supporters which is mature beyond his years and is a great role model for other young men of his age.

“The team of volunteers I am involved with speak very highly of Graeme and love him to bits. Graeme is a very quiet and unassuming young gentleman and deserves more public recognition for the strength of impact he has on those around him.”