Kingscliff tri on the menu

Burleigh’s swim, run fun

GOLD Coasters will take to the ocean and sand this Friday for the eighth annual Australia Day Burleigh Swim Run.

The iconic Gold Coast event will offer three racing formats including The Challenge, a 400m open water swim and 4km beach run, Taste Tester (200m swim, 2km run) and Young Guns Challenge (400m swim, 400m) beach run for children aged five to 12.

More than 700 people will take part, a 20 per cent increase on 2017. It starts at the Burleigh lifeguard tower and swim north before completing the 4km beach run.

A host of big name athletes have graced the winners list previously including Olympic triathlete Ashleigh Gentle who dominated the women’s field until last year when local lifesaver Greta Peterson celebrated an upset win.

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games-bound triathlete Luke Willian will be aiming to defend his crown against the likes of New Zealand’s Matt Stanley. The event raises funds for SLDO ‘Save Lives Donate Organs’. THE next edition of the Kingscliff Triathlon is returning on March 18.

The event will host the Queensland State Championships for triathlon and is set to bring a robust field to Kingscliff from across Queensland and New South Wales.

As part of the regional boundaries, triathlon clubs as far south as Ballina will be eligible to compete for the championship places.

High profile triathletes and Kingscliff Tri regulars Adam Gordon and Courtney Gilfillan have already committed to the event in what is predicted to be a competitive race.

As always, the kids triathlon will start off the day with organisers hoping to again attract an enthusiastic group of youngsters from the local area.

“The kids races our always our favourite and it’s a perfect way to kick off the tri,” race director Mike Crawley said.

“Support via the local schools and lifesaving nippers is usually quite strong and we expect to have over 150 kids taking part.”

Water safety will again be managed by the Cudgen Surf Life Saving Club.

Although it is a championship event, Crawley emphasises that the course and program encourages everyone to have a go.

“With a beautiful swim in Cudgen Creek, a flat cycle, a run along the foreshore, and the event base on Marine Parade, there’s no better place to have your first triathlon.”