Fresh faces give club a tri

Simon Teakle was not prepared to label the Geraldton Triathlon Club the city’s fastest growing sporting group, but it would not be far off.

The club has become a key fixture in the Geraldton summer sporting calendar with an exponential increase in members over the past five years. The new season is just a month old and the club has averaged more than 60 competitors each meeting.

Club president Teakle said the club was benefitting from the sport growing nationally.

“It is cheap to do as well, ” he said.

“We cater for all types of fitness levels and we try to keep it pretty relaxed.”

There have been five triathlon club meetings this season, including one championship round. The club hosts pre and post-Christmas races, mostly on Sunday, over the summer season.

Having so many meetings is another reason the club is popular, according to Teakle.

He said people could pick and choose the times they raced, which allowed them the flexibility to holiday or make other plans.

“Our numbers are probably the same as they were last year, but it is the amount of new people we get to the club that is great, ” he said.

“We have had about 65 people to each meeting this year, but probably a rotation of 150-160 because some come every second or third weekend.”

Some tricky conditions made the first Saturday afternoon triathlon of the season a difficult one.

Troy Gildersleeve won the long course event ahead of Zane Clark.

Sheree Johansen and Yoko Joyner had a neck-and-neck battle during the short course, but it was Johansen’s strong run leg that helped get her over the line.

Ben Freer was a clear winner from Grant Patrick in the men’s short course. The club’s second Revolutions Championship Race is at St Georges Beach on Sunday.