A few showers of rain could not dampen competitors' spirits as the 22nd Maitland Triathlon was held at Morpeth on Sunday.
In a year where most events have been cancelled due to the coronavirus global pandemic, H Events owner and director Paul Humphreys said there was a definite thirst for racing with strong out-of-area numbers and a sell-out event.
A 500-person limit for the event meant competitor numbers were capped at 350.
"Obviously, because of COVID we couldn't have a presentation but people were happy to get some racing in," Mr Humphreys said.
"I had lots of emails thanking us for the events we have been able to run."
Cronulla's Josh Wooldridge led from start to finish to win the men's long course - a two-kilometre swim in the Hunter River, 60km ride and 15km run - in two hours, 57 minutes and 18 seconds. Jervis Bay's Matt Lewis (2:57.48) was second and Joel Wooldridge, also from Cronulla, third (3:00.34).
Dubbo's Jane Fardell was the women's long course winner in 3:28.08. Hollee Simons from Bathurst was second in 3:39.48 and Long Jetty's Rebecca Campbell third in 3:41.41.
In the Olympic distance race of 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run, Canberra's Myles Wood (2:08.34) and Newcastle's Claire Dedden (2:20.06) were comfortable winners in the men's and women's races respectively.
Coffs Harbour's Isaiah Koopmans (1:02.24) won the men's sprint of 750-metre swim, 20km cycle and 5km run. Jacqueline Burnand, from Hills Triathlon Club, won the women's race in 1:08.47.
"The swim times were really slow because of the tide, which was starting to go out," Mr Humphreys said.
"They had a really easy swim out and a really hard swim back into the current, but the conditions overall were pretty good.
"It was an ordinary old race, but it was also an interclub state race, it was part of the Hunter triathlon club series and, in the long and sprint distances, it was a qualifying event for the world championships."
The event was the third H Events have staged since coronavirus restrictions had been eased. The Maitland River Run was held on November 1 and the Wollombi Wild Ride in September.
The next event on the calendar is the Sparke Helmore City Triathlon in February next year but it is understood another multi-sport event could be held in the region before Christmas if given the go-ahead.
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