Round 1 of the Central West Triathlon League delivered everything we love about regional racing — close competition, gritty individual performances, and clubs rallying behind their colours to kick off the season in style.
And after the dust settled, one club made an emphatic early statement.
Mudgee Devils Set the Standard
The Mudgee Devils surged to the top of the leaderboard with a commanding 150 points, showcasing both depth and quality across the field. With a stream of athletes finishing in the points — including standout 10-point performances from Matt Webster, Matthew Low, Tracy Kastelein, Kate Noble, Joshua Williams, Giselle Denley, and Emily Stone — Mudgee made it clear they’re the team to beat in 2025/26.
Dubbo Hippos Start Strong
Sitting in second on 75 points, the Dubbo Hippos showed plenty of firepower, led by perfect 10-point scores from Julia Mannix and Daniel Roberts, alongside solid 9-point results from Simon Heppell, Tim Howlett, and Krissy Ukena. With this consistency across their top athletes, Dubbo looks well positioned to pressure the Devils as the season unfolds.
Orange and Bathurst in the Mix
The Orange Piranhas banked 56 points to open their campaign, highlighted by a strong 9-point performance from Ben Ryall. Just behind them, the Bathurst Wallabies tallied 29 points, boosted by maximum 10-point efforts from Kate Malligan and Mark Windsor, along with a gutsy 9-pointer from Amelia Kirby.
Cowra Looking to Rebound
It wasn’t the start the Cowra Cobras were hoping for, finishing Round 1 without points — but with plenty of rounds ahead, they’ll have ample opportunity to climb the ladder.
A Field Full of Standouts
Beyond the top scorers, a number of athletes added valuable points for their clubs, with strong 9-point results from Mudgee’s Kate Stone, Patrick Holleman, Ronda Gainsford, Helen Smith, and Gary Leonard helping extend the Devils’ margin at the top.
With Round 1 in the books, the Central West Triathlon League is already shaping into a competitive and exciting season. If this opening round is anything to go by, the battle for the title will come down to depth, consistency, and which club can keep their momentum rolling into Round 2.
We have a bit of a while to wait till Round 2 – when the Bathurst Wallabies will once again host their annual triathlon on Australia Day – 26th January 2026!
