There may be six clubs vying for the title in this season’s Central West Inter-Club Triathlon Series but the main attraction may well be the battles within the war.
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The Orange and Bathurst clubs are expected to vie for the title this season, which starts at Cowra on Sunday.
The Dubbo Triathlon Club is targeting a second successive third-placed finish but the competitors are well aware they will face a mighty challenge from their Mudgee counterparts.
Then there’s also the threat posed by the developing clubs at Cowra and Forbes.
“We don’t have that spread (of athletes across age groups) but we got third last year and if we can match that it will be good,” Dubbo Triathlon Club’s Ben Orford said.
“It’s going to be between us and Mudgee for third. There’s three two-horse races. That’s the way I see it and the way our club will head into this season.
“We won’t have a lot going to Cowra, only three or four, but there should be more than 10 heading to Mudgee and we we’ll be well-represented at Orange, Bathurst, and at home as well.”
The event at Cowra this weekend is a grand prix format with competitors starting with a 2km run, a 200m swim and 9km ride before jumping back in for another 200m swim and another 9km ride before finishing with a 2km run.
Of the Dubbo competitor taking part in Inter-Club this year, Julia Mannix shapes as the one to watch.
After taking last year off after giving birth, Mannix is back to reclaim her status as one of the region’s best triathletes.
Personal commitments means she won’t be able to take part in Cowra but she, along with the likes of Craig May and Ian Crafer are likely to be Dubbo’s best chance of scoring a division win.
Orford added there is also some excitement around the potential return of Simon Friend. The Narromine-based Friend is a former Hawaiian Ironman winner but has since retired. However, Orford said he could return this season.
While there is potential moving forward, the focus for the club is the busy weekend ahead.
A swim event is on Saturday, with those taking part going from Sandy Beach to the Macquarie River boat ramp as part of the Wambuul Dreaming River Festival.
The weekend kicks off a busy period for the Dubbo club, with the annual Michael Martins charity day on November 4, before the first round of the Tri-Stars series for juniors takes place the following weekend.
“We had our season openers a few weeks ago and had 29 teams and that was fantastic and was really double of what we expected,” Orford said.
“If we can get a similar number or somewhere around 20 this weekend it will still be well above average.”