PORT Macquarie’s Harry Jones is the early favourite for line honours in the Acclaimed Financial Services Crowdy Bay Triathlon to be run on Sunday.
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“Harry’s about the best of the entries we’ve received so far,’’ race director Rhett Pattison said.
As of yesterday the club had 75 starters in the race and Pattison expects to get the usual field of around 100.
Pattison has said previously that due to restrictions in the transition area, a field around the 100 mark is comfortable.
The event is again run by Forster Tri Club.
Jones has mixed form in the Crowdy race. He was second two years ago, but was later disqualified for not completing the course, so he will be determined to atone for that on Sunday.
“I think Harry’s pretty well training fulltime now. He toweled us up in an inter-club race the other day and he’s looking pretty strong for Sunday,’’ Pattison said.
“He’ll be hard to beat.’’
Newcastle veterans Tim Lane and Nathan Stewart are confirmed starters. Lane won in 2015 and was fourth last year. Stewart took out the event when it was contested in the Cundletown area and has been a regular since the switch to Crowdy.
Last year’s winners, Caleb Agostino-Morrow and Holly Khan both indicated they’d be starting in 2017, but neither had entered at the time of going to press. Agostino-Morrow commented after his success last year how much he enjoyed the course.
Another Port Macquarie triathlete, Laura Cook, who is also a past winner, told Pattison she was starting, but has also yet to nominate.
“If Laura starts she’ll be favourite for the women’s race,’’ Pattison said.
Pattison expects Beau Harper and Katie Jones to lead the local charge on Sunday.
The event will start at 7am with the 500 metre swim followed by the 20km ride. A 5km run will finish the event, with the last 500 metres along the beach.
Pattison said the weather forecast is favourable as are surf conditions.
The triathlon has been held at Crowdy since 2013, although the first race had to be cancelled because of wild weather.
The triathlon will continue what has been a busy month in the Manning for major sporting events.
Headline acts in January so far have included the Troy Bayliss Classic, the Wingham Summertime Rodeo, the Manning Summertime Rowing Regatta, the Head2Head ocean swim at Black Head and the North Coast Dragon Boat Regatta at Taree (see story this page) along and well attended race meetings at Taree.
Taree races against next Tuesday.