NEWLY-FORMED Cloncurry Cats Triathlon and Running Club made its presence felt at the Dirt n Dust triathlon at Julia Creek at the weekend.
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Competing in their first major event as a team since the club’s inception, the Curry Cats came away with some excellent results.
Ironman Kit Rix finished fourth in the open age category and seventh overall.
John Doody and Lucy Richardson won the 25-29 men’s age group category and 25-29 women’s category respectively.
To top it off, Heidi Rix was runner-up in the 40-44 women’s category to give the Cats four major placegetters in Australia’s toughest sprint triathlon.
These results were a massive step in the right direction, according to club spokesperson Rix.
“It (Dirt n Dust) was a launching pad for us,” he said.
“We had a huge turnout. We basically had half the club there with at least 15 competitors.”
The Cats triathletes were sporting their new triathlon suits courtesy of local business sponsors Ernest Henry Mining, Highway Stairs, MMG Limited and K & R Cartage.
“It was our first event wearing our uniforms thanks to our sponsors.
‘‘It was nice to look at someone’s legs from behind, see a slice of orange and know it was someone you knew.”
The Cloncurry-based club is hosting its first sprint distance triathlon, sponsored by Ernest Henry Mining, on May 15 for juniors and May 16 for seniors.
“Everyone is invited. It is an Open event. We’re trying to get as many members of the public or visitors to come on down as we can.
‘‘It will be a 500-metre swim, 10-kilometre ride and a five-kilometre run.
‘‘We would like to thank Davis Contracting for providing us with the prize money.”
While the main focus of the club previously has been on its senior triathletes, this is about to change, according to Rix.
“Over the June/July school holidays we will be having a junior triathlon workshop to get more young people into the sport,” he said.