Off-Road Duathlon Season Opener

The opening race of the Sri Chinmoy Off-Road Duathlon season started under cloudy skies...

The traditional June Long Weekend exodus from Canberra saw athletes competing in races elsewhere, or enjoying the significant snowfalls marking the official opening of the ski season in the nearby Snowy Mountains.

Constant rain falling well into Saturday night further dampened the prospects   of a large turn-out.   Nevertheless, the clouds had poured themselves out by race morning, and a small but eager throng gathered at the edge of Black Mountain Reserve, an island of natural bushland in the urban sea.

The morning's program included Long and Short-Course racing, with the Long-Course offering not only a much longer, but also considerably more demanding option.

Both races started with a run on traffic-free roads through the enchanting Australian National Botanic Gardens.   The short course cut through the centre of the Gardens while the long course circumnavigated the entire grounds.   Despite cool ambient temperature, athletes were well and truly warmed up before returning to the bike compound to transition to the peddling leg.

The Long-Course explored most of Black Mountain Reserve and the adjoining Aranda Bushland, while the short option followed a smaller loop around Little Black Mountain.   The rain had left the surface soft and in places quite squelchy - perfect for enjoyable mountain biking!

The final run saw Long-Course athletes slugging up the 680-metre "Breakfast Hill," almost summiting Black Mountain, while Short-Course runners enjoyed a shorter, flatter route to the finish.   The short race was won convincingly by Simon Krantzcke (pictured at right) and Anne Napier respectively, with Anne placing second overall.   The longer race was very close until the final run when Simon Geach drew away from his challengers, while Leanne Wilkinson was in a class of her own in the women's field.

Ron Brent (pictured at left) won the men's over 50 division, and surprised many younger riders by clocking the fastest time for the mountain bike leg in the Long-Course race!

The race finished under blue skies.   Nearly half the field collected trophies while athletes enjoyed a luncheon of pesto pasta amidst yarns of mud and the mountain, most vowing to return next month for the series' conclusion.

We look forward to the next Off-Road Duathlon to be held over the same course on Sunday July 9.   Online entries are now open.

Full results by category>>
View the race photo gallery>>