Yesterday’s running of the senior event saw Port Macquarie gun Tim Berkel lead from start to finish on a day when the weather was also

testing the athletes.

Port Macquarie Triathlon Club’s Andrew Lister said Berkel was in unstoppable form over the 600m swim, 28km cycle and 6.5km run.

“Tim led at every transition and looked really comfortable,” Lister said.

“He, and all the other competitors, had to deal with patchy rain and strong winds and I know it knocked a few of them around.

“But no one really complained about it even though the water looked pretty rough.”

Lister said Mitch Robbins put in a very solid performance to come in second to Berkel.

“In the women’s I think Tara Prowse didn’t have it all her own way,” he said.

“Julianna Bahr-Thomson has a lighting fast bike leg and it wasn’t until the run that Tara took the

lead.”

Port Macquarie’s Laura Harris too caught Bahr-Thomson during the run leg to come in second.

In all, there were 158 senior

competitors on the day.

“Considering the weather we thought it was a really good turnout,” Lister said.

The annual festival started on Saturday with the hosting of the

junior age division events.

The juniors enjoyed the better of the conditions for the two-day event with the sun shining and weather sweet.

“There were about 80 kids who had a go,” he said.

“And Tacking Point Primary took out the award for most represented school.”

Ronan Wallace, who also won his age division, was the winner of the random prize draw of a new bike, supplied by the club.

The other winner from the

weekend was the Port Macquarie Triathlon Club, just pipping

Foster and Coffs Harbour as best

represented club.

“It is another sign that the event

is growing with a lot of support

from the guys down in Foster,” Lister said.

The winners were:

Men

1. Tim Berkel (Port Macquarie)

2. Mitch Robbins (Port Macquarie)

3. Matt Brody (Newcastle)

Women

1. Tara Prowse (Port Macquarie)

2. Laura Harris (Port Macquarie)

3. Juliana Bahr-Thomson (Central Coast)

Best represented clubs

1. Port Macquarie Triathlon Club

2. Foster Triathlon Club

3. Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club