With strong entries and a world qualifying event the Yarrawonga Mulwala Multisport Festival was another great success by the organizing committee, officials and athletes.
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The festival attracted more than 500 competitors across the weekend with many of them from interstate and a sprinkle of overseas athletes.
Many of the athletes tackled the unique cross border triathlon course for the first time and promised to be back again next year.
Despite a shower early in the day the triathlon events proceeded on the Saturday afternoon from the Mulwala Water Ski Club. The swim component of the triathlon was held in the protected waters in front of the club’s holiday park, the bike leg reached 10km out on Spring Drive while the run course crossed the bridge and meandered along the Yarrawonga foreshore.
The Sunday fun runs resumed their normal format on Sunday morning on the Yarrawonga Foreshore in more favourable conditions.
The Sunday fun runs featured a real community spirit with fundraising for the Sacred Heart School Rosemary Cullen Foundation for the kids’ event.
Spokesperson from the organising committee, the local Sacred Heart’s Splash and Dash team, Andrew MacPherson thanked all competitors for making the trek to Yarrawonga Mulwala and praised all volunteers and sponsors for helping make the event another success.
“Without their support it just would not be possible. The event is important to the community, the school as a fundraiser and the local economy,” Andrew said.
Andrew said the event attracted more than 1,500 people including athletes, support crews and volunteers from all over Australia injecting an estimated $1.5 million into the local economy.
“With the support of Helen and Noel Wright and Yarrawonga Mulwala Tourism and the Mulwala Water Ski Club we have been able to make it more of a community festival and retain the Sunday fun runs from our original Splash and Dash event,” he said.
“Thanks to our main organising committee consisting of Belinda Slade, Jared Loughnan, Tim Roadley, Greg Bye and Cathrina Shaw were incredible. There were many others who assisted along the way also and all our volunteers were just amazing. Without this support we simply could not have run this important community event.
“On behalf of the committee I would also like to thank these volunteers, residents and businesses of Yarrawonga Mulwala for being patient with the road closures and altered traffic conditions.
“Scott Jaques and his band of volunteers from the Yarrawonga Football Netball Club were also an amazing help and proved to be a worthwhile partnership.”
No-one was happier with the weekend than Anthony Goss who won the Sprint Triathlon in an impressive 1 hour, 2 minutes and 3 seconds with a 9 minute and 30 second 750m swim, a 31.38 minute 20km bike ride and a 18.48 minute 10km run. Penelope Nevill was the first woman to cross the line in the Sprint with a sizzling 1 hour 11 minutes and 24 seconds.
In the Olympic (standard) distance and ITU World Qualifier it was Calvin Amos who won in under 2 hours with 1 hour and 56 minutes with a 22 minute - 1,500m swim, a 57.54 minute - 40km bike ride and a 35.06 minute - 10km run. Amanda Wilson was for the second consecutive year the first woman to cross the line in the sprint distance with a time of 2 hours and 13 minutes and 45 seconds.