Brisk pace set in first triathlon

There was more than a bite in the air when Blackall’s hardy triathletes faced up for the challenge last Sunday.

A feature event on the Better in Blackall Festival programme, the triathlon drew 36 competitors.

Facing the starter at 6.30am the senior athletes set off for a 750-metre swim, 20 kilometre bike ride and 5km run.

They reached the finishing line in a little under two hours with the individual male winner being Christo Jacobi.

Team Dendle was Jemma Jones (swim), Gary Dendle (bike) and Kathy Dendle (run) – granddaughter and grandparents team.

In the mini triathlon (400m swim plus 10k bike plus 2.5k run) the individual male winner was Drew Heumiller while the individual female winner was Christine Jacobie.
Team winner – Flash Mob Katie Rafter (swim). Missy DeHennin (bike), Brooke DeHennin (run).

A TRI4FUN event (50m swim, 1k bike and 1k run) was conducted for 12 competitors for ages five to 12.

This event was hotly contested with all involved finishing the gruelling course.
However, judges could not identify the placegetters so each competitor was awarded a medal on a ribbon.

Blackall-Tambo Regional Council’s recreation officer, Bec Manns and Blackall Swimming Club’s secretary, Nicolle Heumiller, organised the event.

Both were impressed by the enthusiasm shown and said the event would not go down as one-off and would be repeated sooner rather than later.

Article credit: The Barcoo Independent