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LENNOX Heads triathlete Clayton Fettell led the way over 2014 70.3 Port Macquarie champion Josh Amberger as they approached the 60-kilometre mark in Ironman Australia.
Fettell and Amberger exited the water neck and neck in a time of 43.46.
Fettell had then opened up a three and a half minute lead on Amberger in the first of two cycle legs from Port Macquarie to Camden Haven.
In the women, New Zealander Gina Crawford left the water in a time of 53.56 ahead of Wendy McAlpine and last year's champion and compatriot Michelle Bremer.
Bremer then caught Crawford and went past her, opening up a three and minute lead as the clouds started to gather and sunshine was replaced by a spot or two of rain.
The athletes started the 3.8 kilometre swim leg in a staggered formation, to allow them more swim space as they were only two or three wide, heading up the Hastings River.
The start was in stark contrast to the full Ironman last year when organisers contemplated postponing the event following days of flooding rain.
Twelve months ago the swim leg was completed in murky, brown water.