Congratulations to Erin Densham who won the Elite Women’s event and Ben Allen for winning the Elite Men’s event at the Cross Triathlon National Championships held at Lake Crackenback in the NSW Snowy Mountains on the weekend.  The race consisted of a 1500m swim on Lake Crackenback, followed by a highly demanding 30km mountain bike ride, before finishing with a 10km rocky trail run.  The elite event was followed by a large contingent of athletes competing for the National Age Group Championship title and the right to represent Australia at the 2014 ITU Cross World Championships  in Zitau, Germany.

London Olympic Bronze medallist, Densham acknowledged the great atmosphere of cross triathlon racing and the spectacular scenery of Lake Crackenback, saying that the race provided the perfect launching pad for her return to competitive racing in the lead up to the Rio Olympic Games.   In a combined wave start with the elite males, Densham also held her own, exiting fourth out of the swim, riding strongly to maintain fourth position on the first lap of the bike and finishing in 7^th place overall.

Wollongong-based endurance athlete Ben Allen added the National Cross Triathlon Championship to his already long list of career achievements.  Allen, one of Australia’s most talented multi-sport athletes, is thriving on the emerging XTERRA world circuit, boasting a podium finish at the World Champs, as well as 12 XTERRA World Tour Race wins.  After his win Allen said "I have to thank my family, sponsors and friends who helped me prepare for the race and kick-start my 2014 season with a national title. I couldn’t imagine a better beginning to my season and I'm really excited for the start of the XTERRA World Championship Tour. I’m proud to don the green and gold and take it with me around the world on the off-road circuit. It's great that the sport of OffRoad triathlon is starting to pick up.”

At the presentation dinner, Triathlon Australia CEO, Anne Gripper praised the organisation of the event by Simon and Robyn Lazenby of In2Adventure and thanked Scott O’Neile, the General Manager of Lake Crackenback resort for making the wonderful mountain bike and running trails of the resort available for the event.  “The event organisers emphasised the three elements of Participation, Environment and Community throughout the weekend, which reflect the spirit of camaraderie and friendship, making the weekend events such a great experience for participants and spectators alike” said Gripper.  “Triathlon Australia is committed to developing the discipline of cross triathlon as an alternative form of triathlon over the next few years”.