Sport
13 February, 2026
Local triathletes start their 2026 races
The Maryborough and District Triathlon Club conducted the sixth event of its 2025/26 Club Championship season from the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre on Sunday, February 8, in warm and slightly windy conditions.
Course distances were a 400 m swim, 20 km ride, and 4 km run for the long course and a 200 m swim, 8 km ride, and 2 km run for the short course.
In the 50+ female long course, it was Toolleen-based Ironwoman Jane Anderson and Castlemaine-based triathlete Gabrielle Bertoni-Marshall who produced an exciting three discipline event.
Both Bertoni-Marshall and Anderson enjoyed the swim leg, with Anderson assuming the lead on the 20 km cycle leg with her customary lightning-fast cycling form.
Bertoni-Marshall also maintained strong form on the cycle leg, setting the scene for an entertaining run leg.
Bertoni-Marshall found the 4 km run leg to her liking, crossing the finish line in 77:28 to take first place, with Anderson (90:17) pushing to the finish line to take second place.
In the open male long course, it was local triathlete Josh Britten and Bendigo-based triathlete Tyler Beale who tackled the course.
Britten produced another outstanding performance in the pool to open up a lead moving into the 20 km cycle leg.
Beale also displayed improved swimming and cycling form, as both triathletes prepared for the 4 km run leg.
Britten was able to maintain his lead however, and crossed the finish line in the outstanding time of 62:07 to take first place (wiping nearly three minutes off his previous personal best time).
Beale maintained his improving form to the finish line as well, posting 75:00 to take second place in a highly consistent three discipline performance.
Budding under 16 female triathlete Clara Fischer, in her first-up club triathlon, showed excep-tional natural ability and great determination in all three triathlon disciplines to post the finish time of 86:57 to take first place in the under 16 female long course.
Adam Lowery and Matthew Cain participated in the open male short course, with both triathletes displaying fine three discipline triathlon performances to cross the finish line in sub-40 minute times.
Cain (37:38) and Lowery (38:50) finished first and second in the category.
Ella Govan and Beppina Marshall also enjoyed the course format in the open female category. Both triathletes excelled in all triathlon disciplines, with Govan (35:03) crossing the finish line first and Marshall (49:32) in second place.
The Cain team (Bridgette and Kate) also combined well to produce the outstanding time of 42:22 to win the open short course team category.
The next club event will be the 2026 Maryborough Kidz Tri, open to all local and regional primary school children to come and experience the sport of triathlon from the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre on Sunday, March 1.
To find out more about the club, its activities, membership, or calendar of club events, contact club secretary Jenny Barras on 0423 495 768, send an email to mbtriathlonclub@icloud.com, or visit www.facebook/maryboroughtriclub.com