Howard spent most of last summer racing for a Dutch cycling team in Europe, so Sunday’s 300 metre swim, 16.5 kilometre cycle and 2.5km run was the first triathlon she had done in some time.

After emerging from the water in fifth she muttered “I hate swimming”, but Howard went on to a commanding win in a time of 45.38.

Second was Morgan Watts (52.30) with Amelia Burke (53.44) third.

“This is my first one of these for at least a year,” she said.

“I know I need to train to swim, but I really don’t like swimming so I don’t train – it’s just not my thing.”

Howard used the race to work on her fitness ahead of a busy summer on the bike.

“I am gearing back up for next year and thought I would do something a bit different,” she said.

“First up is the Tour Down Under, so I am having a bit of fun while I can before it all starts.”

Meanwhile it was a much tighter affair in the women’s long course event where competitors tackled an extra 200m in the swim leg and additional 2.5km in the run.

Young gun Emily Watts led by 45 seconds over Jodie Martin after the swim, but there was just four seconds in it as they headed into final transition.

In the end Watts held on to win in 59.29, with Martin (59.54) second and Danielle Patterson (1:09.37) third.