The Gunnedah Triathlon Club kicked off its first race-style triathlon training event at the Gunnedah Memorial Pool last Sunday, drawing 17 athletes of all ages and abilities.
The tiny tots stole the show as they raced through a 25m swim, three laps of the car park and a two-lap run.
Despite their innocent faces, they raced fiercely with Rosie Galton taking the win and followed by Tommy Wark in second place and Liana Mitchell in third.
In the juniors, the swim was a battle of bodies and limbs as Pippa Wark fought her way to the front and led out of the pool.
Pippa Galton’s impressive bike leg enabled her to surge ahead, and she held onto her lead to take the win while Joash Mitchell placed third.
Ashton Mitchell, Samuel Wark, Jimmy Loveridge and Reggie Stewart followed.
In the senior category, Jedd McIntosh led out of the water but Sai Rorich showed just how advantageous a road bike is over a mountain and gravel bike as he chased
Jedd down and ultimately won the race.
Cooper Galton’s stellar run earned him third place, while Myles McIntosh narrowly beat Sarah Stewart for fourth.
The youngest competitors – Flynn McIntosh and Yasmin Mitchell – finished strongly as they came sixth and seventh.
The event showcased both the pressure and rewards of race-style conditions, with athletes learning valuable lessons.
Club secretary Sarah Stewart expressed gratitude to the parent volunteers and the Gunnedah Memorial Pool staff for coming in early to make sure the children could ride in a safer environment before the day’s traffic started.
Sarah also commended the athletes for their hard work and sportsmanship, saying it “made for an exciting and rewarding morning”.
Juniors: Pippa Wark, Ashton Mitchell, Joash Mitchell (back); Reggie Stewart, Pippa Galton, Samuel Wark, Jimmy Loveridge (front).
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