Fifteen-year-old Brandon Copeland streeted the field to win the first event of the inaugural Kingscliff Turbine Swim Run Series at Kingscliff on Saturday.
The youngster put more than two minutes on the rest of the 40 plus field, finishing the 350m flat swim and 4km run in 17.53 seconds. Tallebudgera man Marcel Van Kampen finished second while Murwillumbah swim coach Gavin Urquart was third and Tallabudgera competitor Jenny Wood was the first woman home finishing sixth over all.
“It was a good course,” Brandon of Salt said after his win.
“I’m using it for training for the Kingscliff Triathlon next year. I’ll definitely be back for the next two.”
Brandon took the lead coming out of the Cudgen Creek and extended it through the run along the creek, over the other side of Cudgen creek and then back.
Second-placed Van Kampen said he had entered the event to “support the localts and just to have fun”.
“And it was fun, it was great,” he said.
“It is terrific having a little race like this I’ll definitely back.”
Almost 50 runners/swimmer of all ages and levels took part in the inaugural event with organiser Cheryl Cain expecting even more for the second race in the series on January 8.
She said they were happy with the turn out despite it being up against several other events, including the Queensland State Swimming title and Christmas functions.
However she said all the competitors seemed to love it and were all keen to come back.
The series is a fundraiser for the Cudgen Headland Surf Lifesaving club and lots of members turned out as volunteers for water safety and a raft of other jobs on the day.
The next race will be held in January with a third and final event in February. Nominations and entries can be made on the day for each event.
