A strong number of junior and senior Devils braved the conditions and picked up some good results at Saturday’s Triathlon NSW Club Championships in Orange.
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Mudgee Triathlon Club president Matt Webster said they finished seventh overall in their category, which saw them pooled in with some big competitors, including the event hosts.
“We were competing against the likes of Orange, who won the category and the best country team as well as you would expect on their home course,” he said.
“Along with strong clubs like Coogee, Bondi and Newcastle, which means our club has a lot of members and that’s pretty good for a small town like us competing with much larger areas.”
He said he was impressed with the local juniors’ efforts as well, who earned valuable points for the club on the type of course that would’ve been new to them.
“We had six juniors competing and overall as a club we finished fifth in the category, which was really good,” he said.
“It was a chance for the juniors to race other people their own age which they don’t often get and a chance for them to do a big formal Triathlon NSW race.
“Plus it had the open water swim, that some enjoyed and some didn’t, we normally swim in the pool so this was really different for them and the distances were a bit further.”
Webster also picked up a win for the club in his category.
“I was really happy with that, the wind was a big issue on the bike ride because it’s quite exposed, but it’s a really good venue,” he said.
Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club (OCTC) dominated the day at Gosling Creek Reservoir, securing three of the five available major titles.
The Piranhas’ juniors fired to claim that category’s title, while OCTC also secured the division two crown and the much-coveted country championship – presented to the best performed regional club.
Of the other major results, Sydney Triathlon Group won division three while the Hills Triathlon Club claimed its maiden overall title, sparking raucous celebrations when it was announced at the presentation evening on Saturday night.
But outside that, the day was the Piranhas’.
Connor Whiteley, the first Piranha past the post in the senior race, said the club’s home course advantage had definitely played a role in Saturday’s success.
The 2016/17 tri season may be winding down but there is still plenty of racing left for the Devils.
A number members will be travelling to Forbes next weekend for a series of races, including a Half Iron Man.
Before the final Mudgee Triathlon Club Race of the season on Sunday, April 9, which will be run as a handicap race based on competitors’ results from throughout the season.
