The event targeted any children who hadn’t experienced the buzz of doing a triathlon before, with special emphasis on encouraging any athletes with disabilities to come and have a try in a very controlled and safe location.

The event took place in and around the Great Lakes YMCA, with a swim in the pool, a bike ride on the road out the front, and the run on the oval next door.

Event coordinator Bruce Hopper said the event was a great success.

“MidCoast Council and Manning Great Lakes Highway Command were incredibly generous and helpful in assisting us get the road out the front of the Y closed to traffic,” he said.

This meant that the kids had the whole road to themselves.” 

Competitors from kindergarten to year two swam one lap of the pool, rode one lap on the bike course and ran one lap on the oval.

Year three and four competitors did two laps of each, and the year five and six participants completed four laps in each of the disciplines.

All the finishers received a hat and a bag of goodies from some of the sponsors, and were given a sausage sandwich and a drink. They also went into the draw for some extra prizes donated by sponsors.

Forster Tri Club president Dave Fitzhardinge said the race couldn’t have gone ahead without the support from the members of the club, parents of the kids, and of course the sponsors.

“We’d like to thank Life Skills for Kids for being the naming sponsor of the event, and all the other local businesses that helped us out,” he said.

“Thanks to McDonalds Forster, YMCA of Great Lakes, Aldi, Saxbys, Bunnings, Forster Cycles, National Australia Bank, Kids Spot, Tempus Timing and Officeworks, who were the amazing local businesses that all agreed to help us out in various ways.

"In other club news, we are heading to Port Macquarie this weekend for the first leg of the annual inter-club series with Port Macquarie Tri Club. The return leg is in early January back on our home course at Forster Keys.”