This weekend’s NSW Triathlon Club Championships are estimated to deliver $1 million into Orange’s economy.
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At least 1500 people will converge on the Gosling Creek Reserve to swim, ride and run on Saturday.
Orange has secured the club championship race for the next three years.
Triathlon NSW CEO Phil Dally said the $1 million benefit was based on estimates from when the race was run in Forster.
Mr Dally said the championships were the biggest inland triathlon in inland NSW and had the potential to grow to the largest in inland Australia.
For Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club president Michael Lockyer, the real benefit won’t arrive for a few years yet.
“The true benefit from this will come three to four years from now, when our 12 to 13-year-olds are racing as adult,” Mr Lockyear said.
“It’s great for the kids, they get to see a professionally run race.”
The club will have 46 seniors and 50 juniors racing on Saturday – half the club’s membership.
Mr Lockyer said the race was unique as triathlon was normally an individual sport but on Saturday participants would be racing for their club.
This year marks the first time the race has junior participants but also the first time it will be held past the Blue Mountains.
“There’s some thought that maybe you can’t hold a triathlon event in country areas because there’s no ocean,” Mr Dally said.
“The attraction that Orange offers with its food and wine industry, which has grown dramatically in the last 20 years, it’s got everything you want for a weekend getaway.
“Council basically built a beach for us to get in and out of the water at Gosling Creek.”
Mr Dally said the youngest triathlete was eight-years-old and the oldest was 83, the median age is 41. He said there would be families which have three generations in the event.
Mr Dally said registrations for the race had closed but spectators would be able to see the the swim and running legs, as well as bike transitions.
Part of Huntley and Forest roads will be closed for the race, with people heading to the airport encouraged to take Huntley Road and people returning to take Forest Road.
The junior events begin at 8.30am and the main event starts at 12.30pm.
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
