NICK North and Emily Watts are Bathurst’s top triathletes for the 2013/14 season.
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The two were recognised at the Wallabies Tri Club awards on Sunday at the Family Hotel for topping the points sheet in the senior men’s and women’s competitions after seven rounds of racing.
The pair’s stories in this season of racing have been very different.
North has been a fixture at the front of the pack at Bathurst and Central West triathlon events.
North, who grabbed his second straight club championship win by finishing six points clear of Josh Stapley, said this year’s championship was even more satisfying than last year’s because he believes it was a higher standard of competition.
“It’s a great achievement in my books. With a lot of strong juniors coming through and blokes like Dean Windsor racing now, it’s much harder,” he said.
“To win it back to back is great ... it’s always nice to add something to the trophy cabinet.”
North has enjoyed both some excellent results outside of the city’s racing and personal improvement this year.
“I’d say the biggest surprise was taking out the Elite Energy Orange race, and I didn’t expect to win it by such a margin. It was also great to win the Dave Scott and Dave Carroll memorial race,” he said.
“I’ve definitely improved my run leg. I only started my proper training in January, but ... I’ve worked a lot on my running technique.”
Lithgow’s Watts is at the other end of the scale, having only recently made the transition into senior level racing. Her impact, however, has been immediate.
Finishing on 588 points put her just eight clear of Stacey Fish as the Bathurst competition came down to a two-woman race.
Watts also managed to qualify for the Australian All Schools triathlon, where she took on the run leg for her winning triathlon team.
The talented triathlete is already looking ahead to the next season of racing.
“I thought I had a really good season ... [now] I’m hoping to make nationals this year,” she said.
“I’d just like to thank my coach Mel [Ashton] and Mum and Dad.”