Enthralling finish to Barwon Heads tri as Nevill secures fourth title

THERE was barely time for photographers to reset their cameras as Penny Nevill surged home in a thrilling finish to the open women’s category of the Barwon Heads Triathlon on Sunday.

Hundreds of spectators lined the bridge to watch the Barwon Heads Triathlon.

Despite being spread out going into the run leg, the top-three women finished within 22 seconds of each other.

Triathletes prepare for the bike leg of the Barwon Heads Triathlon.

Parkdale’s Nevill came from behind to win her fourth Barwon Heads triathlon in 46.22 minutes after trailing Johanna Clark (46:34) at the start of the run.

Gun swimmer Lauren Amy was third in 46.44 and the event featured a 400-metre swim by the Barwon Heads bridge, 14-kilometre cycle and 4km run.

Barwon Heads Triathlon open winners Bailey Tuddenham and Penny Nevill.

“It makes it exciting; it brings the adrenaline on, I always have a strong run so if I’m close on the bike, I feel a little bit confident,” Nevill, 37, said.

“It’s nice to be able to run off the bike so well.”

Jabob McKie finished third in the open men’s race.

It was the 10th edition of the event and Nevill, who is gearing up for the European triathlon season, said she had in competed in six.

Meanwhile, Ballarat’s Bailey Tuddenham took out the men’s open race for the first time in 39:56, signifying the 18-year-old’s rapid rise in the sport.

Johanna Clark takes a breather after crossing the finish line.

“I only got into triathlon two years ago but started taking it seriously 18 months ago,” the former footy player said.

“My family has always been in triathlon and always been around the Ironmans.”

Penny Nevill celebrates winning the open women’s race for the fourth time.

It was just his second attempt at the event after making his triathlon debut at Barwon Heads in 2023 and he went about eight minutes quicker.

Tuddenham was dominant in the bike leg (18:47) to lead by more than one minute as his runners hit the pavement.

Sean Miller finished second in the open men’s race.

“The wind held off which was nice, the swim was nice and fast coming out with the boys and then I was able to put a gap on them in the bike and hold on for the run,” he said.

The teenager beat Sean Miller (41.02) and Jabob McKie (41.17) and he will take on half-Ironmans in Taupo, New Zealand, and Geelong in coming weeks.