TRIATHLON
HAVE a crack at rattling off the 10 biggest triathlon clubs in New South Wales.
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Go on, you’re probably thinking the safest bet is finding the biggest centres along the coast until you hit 10.
Think again.
A touch under 300 kilometres from a beach anywhere along the eastern shoreline, at a location where it’s snowed this winter no less, the Orange Triathlon and Cycle Club (OTCC) is surging up the membership ranks for triathlon clubs in the state, with official numbers expected to explode from 180 last year to upwards of 250 this summer.
“We are surprised every day in the interest in the sport and our growth,” president Mick Lockyer said, ahead of the club’s annual general meeting tonight at the Hotel Canobolas from 6.30pm.
“And it’s because we’ve got fantastic facilities. At the lake, with the town pool, Elephant Park.
“What do you want to be doing in the middle of winter in Orange? Probably not swimming or riding and running, but it’s a great sport and it’s thriving. It’s a young sport and we’re 25 years young and growing.”
As Lockyer says, the Piranhas club will be celebrating its 25th year during the 2015-16 season.
It’s already shaping up as a massive one for the club, and began on Friday when council unveiled the $10,000, 300m stretch of upgraded track on the eastern side of Lake Canobolas - essentially finishing off the club’s 2.5km run loop of its main triathlon base.
Lockyer was thrilled with the new addition, and was confident the work would help transform the OTCC from a big club into a massive one as participation becomes the Orange club’s focus.
Competitively, though, Lockyer said there were two very clear goals the Piranhas wanted to smash this summer.
“We’re absolutely determined to win the (Central West) Inter-Club Triathlon Series trophy back,” Lockyer smiled.
And, to commemorate the club’s 25th year the members will head to the state club championships in Forster in May.
“And we’re aiming to win our category,” he said, which will depend on the club’s size once May rolls around.
“Because of the numbers in our club now, we’re one of the biggest in the state. We’re going to be competing against well-known clubs like Hills District, PIS, Newcastle and Wollongong.
“We can’t wait for that. Everyone is excited about it and that’s a huge, huge goal of the club this year.”
The club’s AGM will be held tonight from 6.30pm at the Hotel Canobolas.