Peter Loveridge has made the Gunnedah Gallop his own in recent years to the extent that following his victory in Sunday's event someone commented to him at the presentation that they should rename it in his honour.
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Such has been his dominance of the annual race, that even Loveridge has lost count of how many times he has won it, but it would be upwards of a dozen.
On Sunday he completed the 8km in 28.15 minutes to beat home Josh McCrae and Wade Ryan. Partner Kelly Watson took out the women's event from Brooke Stainton and Enya Priest.
The dynamic duo were just back from representing Australia at the International Triathlon Union (UTI) World Championships in Laussane, Switzerland, where both achieved top 10 finishes in their respective age groups.
Loveridge was sixth in the 40-44-years male standard distance race while Watson came in ninth in the female 35-39-years sprint event.
Tammy White also donned the green and gold but unfortunately picked up a flat tyre in her female 50-54-years sprint race and was unable to complete the race.
Third at last year's titles on the Gold Coast, Loveridge was "really happy" to finish in the top 10 again.
"It was probably more than I expected this year," he said.
"I haven't had as good a preparation this year. Basically I had some niggling injuries over the winter."
They limited his capacity to train, and he felt in the run especially he was lacking that extra gear that he would usually have.
It was a bit of a chance for him to reminisce, having competed there back in 2006.
"I've only been to Europe twice and both times to the same town," he said.
Only the second world championships he had competed in, he went on to win silver.
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"To date it's my best result at a world championships," Loveridge reflected.
"But it was different circumstances then. I was living and breathing it then.
"I went pro the following year."
He didn't really have any expectations going into Sunday, it was more about supporting the local race.
Watson was hoping to finish a little bit higher but certainly wasn't scoffing at a second top 10 finish after placing ninth last year.
She said it was a very challenging and brutal race.
"It was definitely the hardest triathlon course I've completed," she said.
"The bike was extremely tough and hilly and coming off the bike into the run was hilly. It definitely played havoc with your legs."
The bike leg was made more complicated by a 12-and-a-half per cent descent with a 90 degree turn at the bottom, and was where Watson lost a bit of time.
"At the same time I thoroughly enjoyed it (the race)," she said.
"I had a fantastic time over there."
She was happy with her run on Sunday.
"It's always a tough race with the hills," she said.
It was made more difficult by a tough head wind on the downhill part of the course.
Stainton also noted the wind.
"It was tough with the wind going up the hills and turning into the head wind," she said.
The youngest in the field, the 12-year old travelled down from Armidale to compete.
Part of Jay Stone's Vipers' squad it was the third time participating in the race and her second runner-up finish, after finishing second to Cath Murray last year.
Her time of 35.16 minutes was a personal best and followed a third place in the fun five as part of last month's Tamworth Running Festival.
Organisers were happy with the turn out on Sunday, which was the 43rd running and this year supported Gunnedah Rotary 2380 and the Gunnedah RSPCA.
"We got about 120 entries across the board," Rotary 2380 member Lauren Robertson said, the 50-54-years male division drawing the biggest number of entries.
Nash Carylon was the fastest in the 2km event, the eight-year old completing the course in 10.01 minutes. Fellow eight-year old William Stainto was second with Jake Hudson (10) third.
Natasha North (11) was the first female to finish and the second across the line overall in a time of 10.43 minutes. She finished ahead of Scout Newbery and Nicole Walsh.
