Sewell was president of the Forster Tri Club when it was decided to re-launch the Taree Triathlon after it had lapsed for a few years. The original venue was Cundletown and Sewell won the inaugural race in 2007. 

Sewell only decided to go into the event an hour before the start after everything was in place for it to go ahead.

“It wasn’t the best preparation,’’ he told the Times just after crossing the line.

He was well placed to defend his crown the following year but stopped to help an injured competitor.

Sewell hasn’t raced in the local event since because of commitments with organising the event.

“Richard’s training for the Australian Ironman in Port this year so I’ve given him the day off,’’ race director Rhett Pattison joked.

“He’s keen to get a bit of racing in, even if it is the short stuff.’’

Pattison predicts Sewell will go close to taking overall line honours. 

Yesterday organisers had received more than 80 entries.

“We’re on track for a field of around the 100 mark, which is what we want,’’ Pattison said.

Another past winner of the Cundletown race, Nathan Stewart from Newcastle is another starter although his recent form is unknown.

Tim Lang from Lake Macquarie could also come into calculations while a local, Aaron Hayward has also been training impressively. However, last year’s winner, Jake Schumacher from Forster won’t be back to defend his title.

“He’s in Adelaide watching the Tour Down Under,’’ Pattison explained.

Schumacher scored his maiden win in open company last year.

At this stage the reigning women’s champion, Laura Cook from Wauchope hasn’t nominated although Pattison suspects she will still do so. Cook did say after last year’s race that she doesn’t particularly like running on the sand.

“But she was that far in front by that stage it didn’t matter,’’ Pattison noted.

Cook was a clear winner in the last race at Cundletown in 2012 and she backed that up with another dominating performance in the first race at Crowdy last year. The triathlon was switched to Crowdy Head in 2013 however it was called off because of wild weather.

Schumacher scorched the course in just over 55 minutes last year despite slippery conditions for the bike caused by light rain.

Pattison predicts Sunday’s winner will go close to breaking that time providing it remains dry.

The event will be decided over a 5km swim followed by a 20km bike and a 5km run.

 Low tide is at 6.30am so there’ll be plenty of beach for the competitors to run along to complete the race in front of Crowdy Head Surf Club.

The race will start at 7am.