September 11, 2023
The inaugural Double Dingo Duathlon, run on the South Burnett Rail Trail on Sunday, attracted 50 competitors eager to test their running and cycling skills.
The event was organised by the South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association and sponsored by the South Burnett Regional Council.
It was the first official duathlon to have been run on the rail trail.
Competitors could enter two distances: the Enticer (2km run / 10km ride) or the Sprint (8km run / 25km ride).
The Enticer was for solo entrants only, but solo entrants or teams of two (ie one runner, one cyclist) could race in the Sprint.
The racers competed for glory (and bags of peanuts!) and each competitor was presented with a Double Dingo souvenir.
South Burnett competitors did very well, with Nanango’s Stephen O’Connor coming in first overall in the Sprint.
Virginia Salmon, Kingaroy, and Amanda Ponnapalli, Murgon, were second and third in the Female category in the Sprint.
Runners headed off southwards from near the Timber Museum on Sunday morning before turning around and running back to the cycle transition area in Coronation Park.
They then rode north along the rail trail to another turnaround checkpoint before heading back to the finishing line in Wondai.
Spokesperson Ros Heit said she was really happy with the way the event had unfolded.
“All the competitors were very positive, and the weather was lovely,” she said.
She wanted to especially thank Paul Smith, from the Hervey Bay Triathlon Club, who loaned the use of bike racks and fencing for the event.
“He also gave us lots of help with planning,” she said.
Ros said the SBRTUA would be meeting soon to discuss holding a future event.
“Using the rail trail going both ways was ideal.”
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Results
Sprint – 8km Run / 25km Cycle
Male:
1. Stephen O’Connor – 01:19:22
2. Dennis Rochford – 01:24:52
3. James Maxwell – 01:26:09
Female:
1. Lee Cleary – 01:33:50
2. Virginia Salmon – 01:55:49
3. Amanda Ponnapalli – 02:04:00
Team:
1. Cheetahs – 01:29:43
2. Young & Old – 01:34:52
3. Cushnie Cruisers – 01:49:23
4. Girl Nutters – 01:49:30
Enticer – 2km Run / 10km Cycle
Male:
1. Nathan Mollenhauer – 00:30:44
2. Paul Smith – 00:34:41
3. Sean Nicholson – 00:35:03
Female:
1. Hannah O’Connor – 00:32:40
2. Chelsea O’Connor – 00:33:20
3. Debbie Thorley – 00:33:31
(Photo: Nadine Gray)
- Full results are available online
