Triathletes hit the water at Main Beach. Photo supplied
Richelle Hill claims the Olympic Tri prize at Byron last Saturday with a time of 2.06.17. Photo NX Sports
Eleven hundred competitors turned up for a full weekend of events as part of the Byron Bay Triathlon, which has been running since 1997.
‘It was a different format this year. The idea was to run a multisport festival to make the journey to Byron more worthwhile and inclusive,’ said Byron Tri Club manager Deb Fuller.
The Byron Tri Club and Byron Bay Cycle Club helped run the not-for-profit event with NX Sports.
‘The main events on Saturday included an Olympic and Sprint triathlon, as well as a mini-triathlon called a Tempta. There was also an Aquabike, an Aquathon, Kids Tri and team events..
‘Basically an event for everyone,’ she said.
The day finished up at the Surf Club with an after party at the Village.
Sunday included a Lighthouse Fun Run that attracted 300 competitors, as well as Mothers Day yoga.
On top of this the Sprint Triathlon was considered a NSW State Championship event, and was also the sixth race of the North Coast Interclub League.
In terms of the Interclub League the final results for the local club are still being calculated.
‘After the Kingscliff Triathlon we climbed back on top of the (Interclub) ladder. Sadly our club was lacking in numbers on the weekend due to injury or unavailability so there was a lot of pressure on the remaining members to produce the results,’ Deb said.
Overall results
The top three finishers in the Olympic Triathlon (1,500m swim/40km cycle/10km run) were: (men)Nathaniel Lindsay, Travis Coleman and Samuel Salter; and (women) Richelle Hill, Jessica Purbrick and Briarna Silk.
Top three finalists in the Sprint Tri (750m swim/20km cycle/5km run) were: men: Barry Hudson (U/17), Jake Russell and Sam Russell; and women: Bella Lane, Georgia Ensbey and Joanna Hancock.
Locals’ results
Byron Tri Club results in the Sprint Tri included: Jaime Cascajares first 35–39 male (1:06:38), fifth overall, and NSW State Champion; Huw Jones first 55–59 male (1:18:13) and NSW State Champion; Nick Engerer fifth 35–39 male (1:18:42); Brooke Ferguson third 20–24 female (1:21:49); Gracie Richter fourth 20–24 female (1:21:54); Christie Horsley third 40–44 female (1:24:46) and NSW State Champion; Zvi Azimov tenth 35–39 male (1:24:57); Larissa Whitton seventh 25–29 female (1:26:27); Elize Strydom first 35–39 female (1:36:39) and NSW State Champion; Claire O’Meara third 55–59 female (1:33:01); Margreet Wiegers sixth 40–44 female (1:34:32); and James Aris 21st 35–39 male (1:47:04) in his first ever triathlon.
In the Olympic Distance Filippo Orsini took 13th in the 30–34 male (2:34:25); and in the Aquabike (1,500m swim/40km cycle) Irvin Evans was the first 40–44 male (1:04:04).
Three generations
It was also a big day for the Killen clan who had three generations of the family racing on the day.
‘Sandra is an amazing triathlete, her son Adam Killen lives in Byron and his son Teddy Killen is 12,’ Deb said.
‘It was Adam’s and Teddy’s first solo triathlon’.
