Family fun and ripping racers rock Agate Man

By
Andrew Hudson
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(Jags Brown photo)

It’s a family-fun event, but that doesn’t stop some people training weeks before Agate Man.

About 60 people swam, cycled, and ran in this year’s mini-triathlon from Pure Lake to the Masset firehall on Saturday.

Alissa MacMullin, coordinator for Haida Gwaii Rec, said most people joined as part of the Ben Davidson Family Relay.

Over the 30 years since it began in 1994, MacMullin said the hlG̱a hlḵ’aats iihlangaa, Agate Man Triathlon has grown to include more families and more people joining just for fun.

In 2022, the family relay was renamed in honour of the late Ben Davidson, a former Agate Man soloist who also enjoyed doing the race with his kids.

But Agate Man also has solo men, solo women, and team categories where the competition lives up to the fierce Sea Grizzly design Davidson gifted to represent the race.

“They’re all fun,” MacMullin said with a grin. “But there is a competitiveness to the solos.”

Topping all soloists this year was Jocelyn Black, who won the womens’ title and Agate Man glory with a time of 1:19:10. Dani Dickson, first of the solo swimmers to splash out of Pure Lake, won second at 1:23 and Meghan Wallace won third with 1:33.

Fin Smith ran high-fiving over the line to win the men’s solo at 1:20. Peter Reynolds won second with 1:26 and Joe Hallé third with 1:28.

Luke ABC proved to be the dream team in the relay. Swimmer Luke Borserio, cyclist Luke Crooke-Hromek and runner Marcus Anderson clocked in with an overall best of 1:19:05. 

The Masset Volunteer Fire Department’s Josh Roden, Julien Campbell and Andrew Hudson won second team with 1:25 while their fellow firefighters and Haida Gwaii Rec volunteers worked the finish-line BBQ. The Daw Ilhllnga team of Matthew, Guustlass and Nathan won third with a time of 1:28.

MacMullin gave a special shout-out to the volunteer First Aid, lifeguard and RCMP road crews who made for a safe race.


Craig Russ, left, says it’s been five years and Harold White, right, won’t stop volunteering him to help at Agate Man.

The Butt Busters team of Claire, Peyton, Mackenna and Sean gets set for the swim.
Alissa MacMullin, HG Rec coordinator, gives some last-minute safety tips.

Meghan Wallace swims the final stretch of the 500-metre loop in Pure Lake.
Fin Smith splashes out of Pure Lake in good time.
Carlita Branion-Calles races to town (Jags Brown photo)

Vanessa Bellis flies on the 20 km ride. (Jags Brown photo)

Rose Williams rides up to the cycling-running changeover.
Sian Nalleweg hits a personal best.
(Jags Brown photo)

Hayden joins women’s solo winner Jocelyn Black on her final sprint.

Fin Smith wins the men’s solo to cheers and high-fives.
Dani Dickson finishes at the Masset firehall.

Marcus Alexander, who ran with the number-one Luke ABC team, catches his breath.

Melissa Swain finishes for The Wright Stuff team, named in memory of the late Susan Wright.
From left, Meghan Wallace, Dani Dickson, and Jocelyn Black placed third, second, and first in the women’s solo race.
From left, Joe Hallé, Fin Smith and Peter Reynolds finished third, first, and second in the men’s solo race.
At right, Jessica, Patrick, Cedra and Zola placed first in the Ben Davidson Family Relay Event, followed by Grace, Desmond, Leah, and David (middle), and Jenny Kellar, left, as well as Phoebe and Ian (not pictured).