FAMILIAR faces took out the 2015 Cannington Dirt n Dust Triathlon event with Brisbane triathlete Sam Betten dominant in the men’s division and Mount Isa’s Amanda Gowing successful in the women’s category.
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Betten successfully defended his title for a fifth successive year in seven attempts, representing the longest reign in the history of the event.
Gowing, a member of the Isa Rats Running and Triathlon Club, led the race from start to finish to claim back-to-back women’s titles.
Betten, who is coached by Stephen Moss at Queensland Academy of Sport, was the fastest to complete the 800-metre swim through a small outback creek, a brutal 25-kilometre ride through fierce countryside, and a five-kilometre run in sizzling temperatures.
The winning time of 59 minutes and 40 seconds was a personal best for the 27-year-old, beating second placegetter Edward Dawson and third-placed Connor McKay, both from Townsville.
Gowing finished Australia’s toughest sprint triathlon in 01:16:35, followed by Townsville’s Pam Pamberton and Ipswich’s Rebecca Ungerman.
Betten described his fifth victory in a row as a great feeling where racing conditions were kinder than in previous years.
“The last five years I’ve got it spot on,” Betten said.
“It’s a great feeling to have five in a row and it’s something that no one’s ever done before so it’s pretty special.”
Gowing, 33, was overjoyed by the increasing number of women entering the race year after year.
“It’s great to see so many chicks getting into the sport of triathlon,” Gowing said.
“To all those girls, I hope you’ve had a blast and I hope to see you back here next year to show those boys what we’ve got.
“It was good to see so many people from the North West giving it a go – my tri club, the Isa Rats were out here and there’s more triathlon clubs building now like the Cloncurry Cats and Julia Creek Scorchers.”
Mark Thinee (1st in 30-34 age category) and Clayton Green (2nd in 35-39 age category) were stand outs for the Isa Rats men, while Kit Rix (7th overall) was also outstanding for the Cloncurry Cats Cycling and Triathlon Club.
Vicki Nicholson (1st in 30-34 age category), Merran Cowper (3rd in 35-39 age category), and Tammy Green (4th in 35-39 age category), and Julie Zeller (3rd in 30-34 age category) all put in notable performances for the Isa Rats women’s.