OFF AND SWIMMING: The field hits the water at Lake Canobolas for the last Central West Inter-Club Series round. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0303tri2
THE Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club claimed a fourth-straight Central West Inter-Club Series win after the final round of the 2012-13 season yesterday.
More than 80 people lined up in the final event - a 400m swim, 20km ride and 4km run - at Orange’s Lake Canobolas yesterday.
Orange had a near un-assailable lead going into the round and they only built on it with a strong showing at home.
Preliminary overall points had Orange finishing the series on top with 1200 points.
Mudgee were next best on 758.
Bathurst were the surprise packets of the day with a good show of numbers helping the club jump into third overall on 361 points.
Dubbo finished on 336 points with Cowra rounding out the field with 140.
OCTC president Steve Martin said club members were thrilled to enjoy another series title.
“It’s good to win again,” Martin said.
“We’ve got a lot more points [Sunday] because we had a lot more people today than Mudgee.”
Martin also noted Bathurst’s big finish in the last round.
“Bathurst had a good day. They’ve got some good people racing. It was good to see them come out to Orange,” he said.
Bathurst’s Richard Hobson led the charge for his club by being the first to finish the inter-club race yesterday in 53 minutes and 26 seconds.
Cowra’s Luke Chalker was second in 54:41 and Bathurst’s Nick North came in third in 55:31.
Orange’s Melissa Ashton-Garard was the first female across the line in 59:56 with Bathurst’s Jodie Martin second in 60:05 and Orange’s Janet Martin (61:08) third.
In the men’s 14-19 years race, Chalker was first ahead of Orange’s Kieren Syme and Bathurst’s Paddy Corcoran.
Lauren Kerwick and Laura Auberson made it an Orange one-two in the women’s 14-19 years ahead of Bathurst’s Lucy Hobson.
North won the men’s 20-29 years division while Orange’s Jess Symons was best in the women’s category on the day.
Orange triathletes dominated the 30-39 years categories with Jared Sullivan, Matt Dean and Paul Eccleston claiming the podium in the men’s division and Jessica Richards, Kim Dale and Alison Kittel the top three in the women’s.
Hobson was the best in the men’s 40-49 years event ahead of Steve Martin while the top three women overall were the top three in the women’s 40-49 years category.
Mudgee set the standard in the 50-59 years divisions with Nick Kastelein, Adam Mort and Mal Pitt the top three men and Narelle Quinn winning the women’s category.
The 60-69 years was all Orange with Bruce Smith the best man and Judy Tarleton the leading lady.
