At a brisk and dewy 6.30am the athletes gathered on the usually fog bound Mary’s Mount road and unbelievably were greeted with a gloriously clear sky and idyllic sunrise.

Racing was set to start at 7am with the swim leg to take place in the large dam on the western side of Mary’s Mount Road and the cycle and run legs on the adjacent main road and walking path, which had been closed for the event to take place. As the event was more of a test run for the venue, the distances were adjusted for both the junior and senior competitors to ensure the roads were clear in time to be reopened.

Regardless all competitors tackled the course spiritedly and all were delighted with the venue with high hopes of more races next season.

The juniors/novices started first and about nine entrants entered the water.

Last to leave the 100m swim was Tommy Toparis who quickly rounded up the cycle field and trailed only Andrea Ottley after the first two kilometre loop.

The two stayed in these positions to the end of the 8km ride and thereafter Tommy streaked away to take the race. Andrea battled on to take second and James Toparis sprinted in for third.

Fastest swimmer in the race, Jack McCarthy, was fourth and Olivia Taylor fifth.

The other four competitors only completed a six kilometre ride and the first of them home was Jaime Craig followed by Tyler Dunbar, Adelaide Taylor and mum Louise Taylor.

The adults race was held over a 300m swim, 11km cycle and 4km run with 14 competitors taking part. Club newcomer Angus Taylor was fastest on the day, narrowly ahead of the long striding Rod McWhirter.

Triathlon whiz-kid Cameron Roberts filled the top three, even after completing an extra loop of the swim to give the oldies a chance.

Three time Goulburn Triathlon champ Andy Oberg was fourth home (despite completing the cycle leg on a twenty kilo mountain bike), narrowly beating home first female Lori McWhirter.

Damien Ottley, Richard Toparis, Jason Pattison, Mark Stutchbury and Carmen Jeffrey followed in regular intervals, before second under 17s competitor Isaac Hogan narrowly avoided being triple-chicked, beating Charlie McCormack home by one second.

Jack-of-all-trades Mick Craig beat home Fiona Berry, who showed true grit to complete the course in just over one hour and ten minutes.

The club thanks wholeheartedly Goulburn Mulwaree Council for allowing the closure of Marys Mount road for the two hour period between 7–9am and also the residents and users of the areas affected by the race. In other news, the weekly aquathon competition has almost run its course with next Tuesday being the last round.

Despite this, competitors continue to improve with some points of note over the last three weeks, including the following: James Toparis, Tommy Toparis and Jordan Gann all recording PBs this week and finishing only four seconds apart in a dramatic final sprint.

In the Intermediate division Jacqui Oberg broke 27:30 for the first time and Phil Downes managed a season best only to be pipped by daughter Rachel by four seconds.

In the open distance Cameron Roberts narrowly missed out on breaking 30 minutes and Isaac Hogan missed breaking 40 minutes by four seconds.

Of the ladies, Nik Christen and Barb Beard both put in personal bests, narrowly beating home Annette Pattison