Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club’s Jack Bilton, Jess Richards and and Laura Wolfson all produced strong performances to claim minor placings in the Bathurst leg of the Central West Inter-Club Triathlon Series on Australia Day.
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The grand prix format saw long course competitors take on a 2.5 kilometre run, 200 metre swim and 16km bike leg followed by further 200m swim and 2.5km legs to finish, Bilton dominated the first cycle and run portions of the race.
He clocked 50.43, finishing 35 seconds behind Bathurst’s Nick North who defended his title in 50.08 and just eight seconds behind second finisher Matt Webster, from Mudgee.
It was on the second swim leg where North propelled himself into the lead, after bouncing around inside the top five throughout the race.
“To be honest wasn’t 100 per cent during that race. That first run I knew would be fast and I knew I’d just have to be patient and get into my own rhythm,” North said.
"When you get in the water after the first run and the ride your legs are just lactic and you can’t use them.
“With strong upper body I was able to muscle my way through the first swim and get into a rhythm on the bike.
“It didn’t take them long to catch me though and the attacks were flying left, right and centre.
“We all came together on the bike and I just had to remain confident in my swimming ability.”
Dean Windsor powered ahead to arrive back first on the bike but the top five were bunched close together going into the final two legs.
Jimmy Byrne, North, Webster and Bilton all followed close behind.
However, North’s following swim leg gave him a comfortable margin over Bilton going into the run for home.
“I ran scared. I was hurting but just had to grit my teeth and get away,” North said.
“My running and riding are probably not up to the level of some of these guys.
“The WIndsors can ride and Matt Webster and Jack Bilton can run so I had to use my strength, and that’s swimming.”
The win is a great sign for North on his continued recovery from a training accident on the bike in October.
“It’s good to get back-to-back wins and it’s my first competitive race back after four months off. I couldn’t be happier,” North said.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a stronger, faster and more competitive field in an interclub race. The level has gone up tenfold. It’s unbelievable.”
In the women’s race, Richards finished second with Wolfson in third, behind winner Lithgow’s Emily Watts.
Watts clocked 56.36 to see off Richards, who finished in 57.33 with Wolfson not far behind.
“I just paced myself through it and I actually felt pretty good,” Watts said of her performance.
“There was a couple of good Orange riders who came down for the race and I was looking out for them.”
