One of Newcastle's longest-running events, the Sparke Helmore Newcastle City Triathlon, returns this weekend for its 32nd consecutive year. Organiser Paul Humphreys, of H Events, says the triathlon remains as popular as ever, drawing competitors from novices to elite athletes.
The event began in 1994 and has evolved with the city. Humphreys noted that the triathlon originally went through Carrington and King Edward Park but is now a compact sprint distance race. Last year, nearly 1200 participants took part, boosted by the event being a qualifying race for the world championships held in Australia. This year, it remains a qualifier for the world championships in Spain.
Back-to-back defending champion Monty Dixon is expected to lead the sprint distance race, which includes a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre cycle, and 5-kilometre run. Fellow Maitland Triathlon member Cooper Lee, who finished second for the past two years, is also a contender. Nathan Stewart of Pelican, a multiple winner, recently placed fourth in his age group at the world triathlon championships in Wollongong. Newcastle's Meg Isbester, who competed at the world titles in the 25-29 age group, will be a title contender in the women's sprint race.
Racing starts at 7am on Sunday, with road closures around the foreshore. The event showcases the Newcastle Foreshore and brings the community together, according to Humphreys.
