INCREASED participation, a growing profile and a reputation for being supportive - that's why the Bathurst Wallabies Triathlon Club can rate their season a success despite it ending prematurely.
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Like many sporting clubs across the Central West, the Wallabies had their season come to an end earlier than anticipated due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Its final two races - one set for this Sunday and the Carroll/Scott Memorial round planned for April 5 - will not go ahead.
While that is a disappointment, Wallabies club president Richard Blackie said their 2019-20 season to that point had been a success.
"More people, inclusion, getting a wider range of people having a go and new people coming and enjoying it. It has been a good season," he said.
"That is what we are trying to do as a club, make it available to everyone. Even having people come down and watch.
"Our events are achievable for most people to come and do and hopefully they feel welcome. Most people we found, those who do come, they enjoy it and they return.
"Even if people don't come and race the first time, even if they just come down and have a look, check out the atmosphere and see everyone who does it."
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The continued growth of those racing this season can in large be attributed to the club's push to attract more females to triathlon.
The Wallabies staged their second women's only round in December. It not only saw a number of first-timers, but many of those who attended returned for the club races which followed.
"Our growth was of course on the back of the women's round again, we had more than 100 women - the same as last year - take part," Blackie said.
"So that was probably the highlight along with the Tri-ability race we had with our Christmas round."
While having to swim, cycle and run to reach the finish line is something that can initially seem imposing when it comes to triathlon, many new Wallabies have found it to be a different experience.
The words "positive" and "supportive" have been used numerous times in reference to the atmosphere at club races and it is something Blackie is proud of.
"I think it's just a natural thing that comes out. All the committee are very encouraging, I suppose they've been there and they know how intimidating it can be for your first one," he said.
"I think everyone wants everyone to succeed, our races are all about fun.
"We have some really strong competitors and if you want to come and have a good crack, people are respectful of that too. Everyone can just go at their own pace."
The club also enjoyed strong participation at the Central West Interclub rounds plus Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events.
"In the last two or three years we were trying to, initially, get people to interclub events because we didn't travel that much," Blackie said. "But that's really picked up, we now have a very large number of people at a lot of bigger events.
"The Western Sydney event, which was in November, we won third place in the tri clubs for people doing well ... performance wise for a club of our size we were one of the best performed."
