ORANGE will take a massive lead into the final round of the Central West Inter-Club Triathlon Series after performing strongly in Sunday’s event around Lake Canobolas.

The Orange club has a lead of around 450 points after earning 373 points on the weekend at home.

Mudgee was the next best performed with 129 points followed by Dubbo with 43.

A total of 102 triathletes swan, cycled and ran their way around Lake Canobolas, with Orange competitors winning all but two race divisions.

Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club president Steve Martin believes the weekend’s results should ensure the club prove hard to beat.

“That lead should be enough. I thought we’d go close last year,” he said.

“We had a lead of around 120 going into Mudgee last year and they won in the final round, so it should be close again.”

The weekend’s racing proved tough with a number of close finishes ensuring exciting racing.

In the under 19s division, Orange’s Rachel Wood narrowly missed out on winning her first race of the year, beaten by club-mate Laura Wolfson by 13 seconds after 22km of racing.

David Selwood was the first man past the post, taking out the men’s 20-29 years race with the an impressive time of 50 minutes 10 seconds.

Christine Wolfson will be hoping for a clean-sweep of victories in Mudgee after winning her division with a time of 54.06.

After four rounds the unofficial point have Orange with a commanding lead on 977 points, followed by Mudgee 498, Dubbo 334, Bathurst on 136 and Cowra on 110.

The final and deciding round in the series will be held at Mudgee this Sunday.