The Annual Marlo Triathlon run by the Orbost Snowy Rovers Football Netball Club and Riviera Triathlon Club was deemed a huge success.

Held on January 5, people from far and wide travelled to Marlo to take part in the 26th running of the event.

Event organiser, Jenny Smith, says that she has received nothing but positive feedback.

“The numbers were up in the kids races and they were pretty similar in the other races,” she said.

“I think we had 47 in one race and 41 in the other; they aren’t all individual entries either, some were as a team of two or three.

“It was on par with the last couple of years and I’m sure there would have been a few sore muscles the following day.”

Despite rain affecting the later stages of the event, Jenny said it didn’t dampen the spirits of the competition.

“The weather was perfect to start off with considering the day before was so hot and we didn’t really get rain to nearly the end of the main race. I think most of the athletes were hot by then,” she said.

“We didn’t have enough rain to make the course dangerous or anything, which was good.”

In terms of next year’s race Jenny and her team are already preparing to host the event.

“We are already looking at the dates for next year and can’t wait to host it again,”
she said.

“We are closing in on our 30th year so we are trying to make it bigger and better each year.”

After trailing by 54 seconds after the swim leg, Tim Boote powered home in the cycling and running legs to claim first position in the main race (500m swim, 22km cycle, 5.5km run).

Boote was among the contenders from the outset, setting a good pace as he exited the water in third position. From there he took control.

Boote found himself in second place after the cycle, before showing his running prowess to finish the course two minutes ahead of Jacob Riley with a time of 63 minutes and one second.

Noah Deubel crossed the line in third place with a time of 68.26.

In the women’s race with a time of 67.47 Alexandra Keith finished first followed by Cassy Lear (78.15) and Emma Goodall (80.4).

The Muppets won the team section with a time of 74.24. The local hero was Adam Ilton with a time of 74.16.

Courtney Shinn was named the local heroine with a time of 85.59 while BCJ was the local hero team.

In the fun triathlon, competed over a 200m swim, 10km cycle and a 2.5km run, Jacob Riley was the first male over 18 years of age to cross the line with a time of 36.52, while Linda Love was the first female over 18 to cross the line with a time of 48.46.

Aaron & Co was the first female team to cross the line with a competitive time of 31.13, while ANE was the local team winner. The local hero was Oscar Millward with a time of 51.35, while the local heroine, with a time of 59.07, was Susan Herbert.

There were a record number of entrants in the children’s 5-6 years and 7-11 years categories.

PICTURED: Hamish Nettleton keeps his focus during the annual Orbost Snowy Rovers Football Netball Club Marlo Triathlon on Saturday, January 5. There were four races on the day ranging from 5-6 years race to the sprint race, which was suited for the fittest competitors.