Winning run continues: Regan Hollioake claimed the women’s crown in the 2024 Echuca Moama triathlon, making three successive victories in the event. Photos: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The 2024 Echuca Moama Triathlon has been run and won, with David Fawkes and Regan Hollioake putting on dominant showings to claim the men’s and women’s events, respectively.
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For Hollioake, the triumph represents a third consecutive title, having also proved too strong in the previous two events.
A highlight on the racing calendar for the now three-time champion, Hollioake led from start to finish as she wrapped up the win by more than six minutes to her nearest rival.
“It was a great day, great course,” she said.
“It’s always a bit of fun racing regionally, this is one of my favourite race weekends of the year.
“It all went well, it was really nice having the super class go early so we had free reign of the bike course so we could really go fast and furious out there.”
Hollioake led the race out of the water, covering the 700 metres downstream in 6:35, before storming away on the bike, taking just 30:49 to cycle the 20km course.
A sub 20-minute 5km run rounded out the brilliant showing, with her 19:15 effort seeing her cross the line to finish in 58:28, the only female to come in under an hour.
With three wins from her last three starts at the event, Hollioake said she will return to defend her title yet again next year.
“Definitely yes, definitely,” she said.
“I’ve got my family here tonight, they’ve come up from Ballarat, and I actually live in Nathalia, so we just come across for the weekend and stay, and we’ll definitely be back next year.”
Local Rebecca Cladingboel came home to finish in second place, while Lucy Collins claimed the final spot on the podium.
Elation: David Fawkes claimed a sensational win in the men’s event, taking the victory in his first attempt at the race.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
In the men’s event, David Fawkes enjoyed a similarly commanding win, taking victory at his first attempt by more than a minute to second place.
Third out of the water after a 6:13 swim, Fawkes took control on the bike, smashing out a 29:17 leg to enter the run in first, a lead he would not relinquish, storming home to cover the 5km in 17:08 to finish the race in 54:24 and claim the crown.
“It was pretty good,” he said following the win.
“The swim was a bit chaotic, I didn’t know where I was going, I just tried to follow some feet in front of me. The bike was actually pretty fast and I felt pretty good, apart from the turns and the difficult course structure.
“It was pretty fast out there, and I didn’t really feel it until the run. I stupidly didn’t have any water on the bike because I thought it’s only a sprint distance, I’ll be okay, and then a kilometre into the run I was regretting that.
“On the run I was trying to just stick to a certain pace and just hold my lead I guess, and keep that gap where it was and managed to do that.”
Fawkes said he was inspired to have a crack at the race after watching his Beckworth Racing teammates George Fellner and Lachlan Wright win the event in the previous two years, while the unique format of the race was also a big factor.
“I was really excited to come up here and do it,” he said.
“Obviously every triathlon you do is at 7am in the morning, at the crack of dawn. The 5.30 pm start appealed to me, and with a local crowd and a river swim, it was all very unique and exciting.”
Aaron McKenzie claimed second place behind Fawkes following a strong run leg, while Sean Miller rounded out the podium in third.
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