ORANGE made the start they wanted in the Central West Inter-Club Triathlon Series on Sunday.
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The opening round was at Mudgee and Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club president Steve Martin hoped for a strong showing from the Orange members to give them a good start.
Official results were still being collated yesterday but it was expected Mudgee would be on top of the ladder with Orange not far behind.
“It was a good start. I’m happy with how it went,” Martin said.
“Mudgee didn’t hit it as hard as they maybe have done in the past.
“We had about 30 people there. Mudgee had about 50 people, so Mudgee will be on top.”
Each age group winner in each round gets 11 points for their club, second gets 10 and so on down the placings.
Every participant is awarded a point.
Orange has won the last three inter-club titles and are keen to claim a fourth.
Sunday’s event at Mudgee used the grand prix format - a 2km run, 200m swim, 9km cycle, 200m swim, 9km cycle and 2km run.
Bathurst’s Nick North was the first male across the finish line in an unofficial time of 52 minutes and 41 seconds.
He finished just over two minutes ahead of Orange’s Dave Selwood, who was in great form on the bike.
Dubbo’s Jane Fardell was the first woman to finish and fifth overall in 55:24.
North, who is just returning to the sport after a battle with chronic fatigue and a small heart murmur, had a pre-race plan and stuck to it.
“I really pushed it in the first run because I knew David Selwood is strong on the bike. I knew I had to get a lead on the first run and the swim, and try and maintain it on the bike,” North said.
“Everything kind of went well. I felt strong the whole race and I was able to hold that lead.”
Martin said several Orange competitors put in good performances.
“Phil Tudor did very well and he’s really improved. Kim Dale and Alison Kittle have also improved,” he said.
The Orange club will be keen to edge closer to the lead in the next inter-club round in Cowra on December 2.
“We have to see what we can do in Cowra,” Martin said.