MUDGEE’S Matt Webster continued his impressive run in the 2017-18 Central West Inter-club Triathlon Series on Friday, a second placing at Bathurst increasing his overall lead.
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In the first of the five inter-club rounds in Mudgee in November, Webster placed second behind Bathurst triathlete Nick North.
He backed that up by taking the honours at Cowra on January 21, while his hard-earned runner-up finish in the Bathurst-hosted event to Connor Whiteley actually increased Webster’s series lead.
Whiteley had not contested the two previous rounds, while North did not compete at Cowra and tackled his home event on Friday as part of a team entry.
On Friday Webster had an absorbing battle with not only Whiteley, but another Orange teen in Jack Bilton, who ended up in third.
“They certainly gave it to me. It was good to see Connor racing again because he hasn’t done inter-club in a little while and it was a good race with him. He just pipped me in the last couple of legs,” Webster, who also holds a huge lead in the 50-59 years male age division, said.
“I caught him on the bike, so I was really proud of that, catching up and overtaking him on the bike. Then of course I had Jack, the other young guy, we always have really good races and today was another one.
“I overtook him with about 500 metres to go. It was really tough and I really pushed myself hard today.”
The grand prix format saw Friday’s race split into a 2.5 kilometre run, 200 metres swim, 16km cycle, another 200m swim and finally a 2.5km run.
Webster was second after the first run, emerged from the pool in third, improved to second in the cycle and in the end crossed the line some 50m ahead of Bilton.
“I like this format because it is tougher and rewards people who are strong runners and I think I am a strong runner. Jack was pretty much with me after the first run, but I was maybe 10-15 seconds faster than him on the second one and that was the main difference for the race,” he said.
“That was a bit of strength running and it was very tough. I couldn’t ease off at all, once I overtook him I had to keep the effort up because he could’ve just sprinted in the end.”
The Mudgee Red Devils will return to Lawson Park on Sunday for their fifth club race, commencing at 8am.
First up will be the main race, followed by the little and big devils at 9.15 and 9.30, before the SimplyFit Super Sprint kicks off at 10am.
Keen competitors are urged to visit Lawson Park for a fun day of competition before Orange’s inter-club event on February 11.