McCartney’s Warrnambool foreshore triathlon swansong

Club president Claire Farrer said McCartney, the defending champion and six-time winner of the event, was again the one to beat.

The prominent Warrnambool competitor completed the 500-metre swim, 20-kilometre ride and 5km run circuit in 53 minutes and six seconds last year.

“Kris is moving to Queensland but is going to try and do the event as his last one so he’ll definitely be favourite,” Farrer said.

“Leigh McCarthy is in really good form so he’ll do well and Natasha Cross would have to be the favourite for the girls.”

The foreshore triathlon is now part of the Rural Tri Series, a statewide accumulative points competition.

Benalla, Echuca and Albury have already hosted events as part of the competition, with Maryborough on February 8 and Horsham on February 14 to round out the series.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three placegetters in each age group.

Competitors must have finished at least three races to be eligible.

Farrer said the series was a positive for the foreshore triathlon.

“We are getting a few entries from Echuca and Horsham so we will have a few new faces and we have had local people  inquire about doing it as their first one,” she said.

Farrer expects more than 100 people to compete in the annual event.

“We will have a few teams as well. Teams always seem to be popular and the weather is looking good so we should make those numbers easily,” she said.

“It’s only meant to be 21 (degrees) at this stage. Last year it was stinking hot and that turns people off, especially newcomers.”

Farrer said triathlons, which experienced a boom, were now attracting steady interest.

“It’s plateaued a bit,” she said.

“I think that happens a lot with sport … the fast growth and then people get involved with other things.”

The foreshore triathlon will start at 9am on Sunday.

A junior event for entrants 13 and under is on Saturday.