Glasgow swimmer Mark wins Red Bull Neptune Steps again

Mark Deans did it again this weekend when he won the Red Bull Neptune Steps uphill swimming race at Maryhill Locks in his home city.

He raced against 200 athletes in the event that included a 420m swim in the Forth & Clyde Canal and eight canal lock climbs using rope climbs, wooden ladders, cargo nets and climbing walls to aid the ascent. I reported on the Neptune Steps event last month.

After winning, Mark said: “It feels awesome, but it’s all a bit much. I had to push it really hard in the final.

“This is a truly unique event. I’d go as far as to say it is my favourite, and I’ll definitely be back if it returns again.”

In a closely fought final, Team Scotland triathlete Marc Austin, also from Glasgow, finished in second while Irish triathlete James Walton was third.

In the women’s event, it was Stirling University triathlete Shannon Bothan who won. She said: “It was amazing and it feels really good to take the win. I’ve never competed in anything else like it.”

Some 2,600 spectators watched the swimmers in this bonkers event.

See  www.redbull.co.uk/neptunesteps for the full set of results.

Red Bull Neptune Steps results:

Male final

1^st place – Mark Deans

2^nd place – Marc Austin

3^rd place – James Walton

Female final

1^st place – Shannon Botham

2^nd place – Helen Smith

3^rd place – Cliona Ferguson

Photographs credit: Ian Macnicol.