Opportunity for young triathletes

FOR the first time since before the pandemic, young athletes from the region and beyond are being invited to swim, cycle and run as part of a returning junior triathlon.

Organised by members of the Ballarat Triathlon Club, the event will see sportspeople aged between nine and 17 competing at the Ballarat Lifestyle and Aquatic Centre, Prince of Wales Park and Ballarat High School.

Triathlon club president Molly Voss said the competition is an ideal way to introduce young people to the sports.

“It’s designed to give our junior athletes in Ballarat and surrounding areas an intro to triathlon in what’s a very safe and inclusive environment,” she said.

“We’ve designed it so that it’s in a pool, whereas often triathlon events are in open water which can be daunting.

“We’ve also got the bike courses on paths instead of on the road.

“It’s a good entry point for people who might be a bit curious about triathlon and maybe haven’t tried one before.”

The single-day event will take place on Sunday 16 March, and participants will pay a $20 fee to take part.

Competitors aged between nine and 11 can compete in 100-metre swim, three-kilometre bike ride and 500-metre run events, while 12 to 17-year-olds can test their skills across a 200-metre swim, a six-kilometre bike ride and one-kilometre runs.

Ms Voss said many group members have gotten their start through the junior triathlon.

“We have quite a list of now-professional triathletes who got their start in the junior triathlon,” she said.

“We’ve got Regan Hollioake who’s a professional Iron Woman, as well as Oscar Wootton who went to the [2023 Commonwealth] Youth Games … and Bailey Tuddenham, another local professional. We’re looking forward to seeing all these young people try out the sport, hopefully love it, and step up to our Lake Esmond events.

“It’ll be exciting to see potential new triathletes having a go.”

The junior triathlon is being supported through the State Government’s Sporting Club Grants Program.

To register, visit the Ballarat Triathlon Club website at ballarattriclub.com.