Their presence at this weekend’s Australian Ironman in Port Macquarie will make Dubbo the largest regional entry in Australia.

The competitors are Doug Beal, Robert Duffy, Simon Friend, Mick Broomfield, Peter Christie, Rod Fardell, Bark Shanks, Tim Furney, Mark McKenna, John Bartholomew, Ian Crafter, Damien Kelly, Josh Strahorn, Scott Strahorn, Nick Wilson and Damian Newson.

More than a thousand people are competing in the Ultra Distance Championship event that involves a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and a 42.2km run.

That’s 76 laps of a 50m pool, cycling almost from Dubbo to Bathurst and a marathon distance run from Dubbo to Narromine.

Narromine’s Simon Friend who’s competed in two Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii is hoping to qualify again this year.

More than 100,000 triathletes try each year, but less than 1900 earn the coveted Kona slot.

Friend, an ambulance officer, will race in the most competitive age group being 35 to 39 year olds.

“He is an exceptional talent,” Dubbo competitor Robert Duffy said.

“In 2010 Simon came fourth in his age category and 21st overall beating a number of professional male athletes.”

All of the 16 Dubbo men aged between 26 and 55 have mostly been training together for almost a year dedicating between 20-25 hours a week.

“It’s like having a second job,” Dubbo competitor Doug Beal said.

Beal will be lining up for his ninth ironman on Sunday hoping to finish under 16 hours.

“Most people think I’m insane,” he chuckled.

“I did my first ironman in 2001 in New Zealand, a few people said that I couldn’t do it but I wanted to prove them wrong and I did.

“When you cross the finish line it’s a feeling that’s like no other ... it’s similar to when my two girls were born.”

Sunday’s event will be Dubbo solicitor Robert Duffy’s seventh Ironman.

“I watched my brother compete in 2002 and I was inspired by the people who did it, some are natural athletes others have a big heart and give it a go,” Duffy said.

“It’s an extraordinary event to be a part of but it’s not easy, during the race there are so many highs and lows but at the end of it you have a sense that anything is possible if you set your eyes on it.

“The biggest challenge is fatigue, being mentally prepared and getting your nutrition right, if you don’t take care of yourself out there you can collapse or your body will start to cramp.”

Duffy said the quickest of the Dubbo group would finish in about nine hours.

The event will be Peter Christie’s sixth ironman, Mick Broomfield’s third, Rod Fardell and Bart Shanks’ second and the other nine men are lining up for their first attempt.

“There’s a real camaraderie in the group ... without the guys it would be hard to keep signing up to do the event year in year out,” said Mr Beal.

Dubbo’s Scott Ferrari and Greg Heath will compete in the half ironman event at Port Macquarie on Sunday.