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Event History

Australia's Oldest Triathlon

In 1982 a couple of mates, after seeing the Hawaiian Ironman on TV, decided to stage their own triathlon at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

The Nepean Triathlon emerged and has attracted elite athletes from around the world, age group combatants, first timers and some that complete the Nepean Triathlon as an annual ritual.

The Nepean Triathlon remains an iconic sporting and community event on the Aussie triathlon calendar. The event and the history it has created is a testament to all the volunteers, sponsors, race organisers and entrants who have supported what is now Australia’s oldest triathlon.

From The Archives

Covid Chaos Interrupts 2020 Event

With the Coronavirus pandemic impacting the world, restrictions on events and gatherings meant uncertainty about…

natalie-van-coevorden-nepean-triathlon
New winners emerge in 2019
New winners emerge in the 38th running of the Nepean Triathlon.
2018 Nepean Triathlon Winners Ashleigh Gentle and Aaron Royle
Royle and Gentle Dominate Again

In the 37th event, Aaron Royle again took victory including the outright victory which had…

2017 Nepean Triathlon Winners Ashleigh Gentle and Aaron Royle
Nepean Welcomes A New Race Director

The 36th running of the Nepean Triathlon saw a changing of the guard in Race…

2016 Nepean Triathlon Winners Jake Birthwhistle and Ashleigh Gentle
Nepean Triathlon Makes it’s TV Debut

The 35th running of the Nepean Triathlon saw two Australian Olympic Representatives from Rio return…

Nepean Triathlon Winners 2017 Aaron Royle and Emma Moffatt
Aaron Royle Get’s a Hat-trick

The 34th running of Australia’s oldest triathlon, the Atmosphere Nepean Triathlon, was held at the…

2014 Nepean Triathlon Winners Aaron Royle and Ashleigh Gentle
John McLean Completes the Nepean

With prize money increased slightly from 2013 the elite triathletes lined up once again for the Nepean…

2013 Nepean Triathlon Emma Moffatt, Aaron Royle and Ashleigh Gentle
An Elite Field in the Wake of Bushfires

The 2013 Nepean Triathlon saw one of the hottest fields assembled for a triathlon in…

2012 Nepean Triathlon Winners Courtney Atkinson
Photo Finish!

The 2012 edition saw two London Olympic Triathlon representatives dominate the race and provide arguably…

2011 Nepean Triathlon Winners Tim Reed and Melissa Rollison
Nepean Triathlon Turns 30!

The Nepean Triathlon hits another milestone reaching 30 years. Commemorative t-shirts and medals are produced…

Nepean Triathlon 2010
Grand Prix Event Trialled

The 2010 Nepean triathlon was run under extremely hot conditions. ACT athlete Michelle Wu took…

Jacobs Dominates & Vandewater Returns

Pete Jacobs took the Nepean Triathlon title before winning the Australian Ironman in 2011 followed…

International Stars Take Victory

Two international athletes took the honours in the 2008 Nepean Triathlon, the first time this…

Beven and King Return

Joanne King returned to the Nepean Triathlon 10 years after her last victory in 1997…

2004 Nepean Triathlon Winners Nick Hornman and Angie Sharp
Hornman and Sharp Get Multiple Titles

This year saw the running of the 25th anniversary Nepean Triathlon which drew a number…

Nepean Triathlon Legends
4 Legends Emerge

The year the locals took their race back. The handicap system was again used which…

2004 Nepean Triathlon Winners Nick Hornman and Angie Sharp
Outright Victory Concept Introduced

Race organisers were faced with the cancelling of the event for the first time, as…

An Iconic Community Event Continues

The days of all the best pros in Australia racing in the Nepean Triathlon take…

Race Numbers Rebound

The Saturday enticer events became a permanent part of the Nepean Weekend. The competitor numbers…

Enticer Triathlons Introduced

Now getting settled at the new venue the race organisers decided to include some kids…

Nepean Triathlon 2000
Post Olympics Triathlon Hype

The Olympics had just been held in September in Sydney with Triathlon featuring for the…

leigh chapman
A New Home for the Nepean Triathlon

This was the first Nepean Triathlon held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. The distances…

Last Nepean Held at the River

This was the last year the event was held at Tench Reserve on the Nepean…

A Local Takes the Title

The replaced bridge, which disrupted the cycle course in the previous event, was now in…

A Bridge to Overcome

The Nepean Triathlon celebrated its 15th anniversary. While the swim remained the same, the run…

Selection Race for Grand Prix Series

This was the last year radio station 2WS sponsored the event (they had been involved…

Tim Bentley gets a Hat-trick

Tim Bentley secured his third title with Bianca Van Woesik getting her first Nepean victory.…

Emma Carney Victorious

Tim Bentley won his second impressive title and a young Emma Carney kicked off her…

Tim Bentley Begins his Reign

1992 marked beginning of the winning rein of Victorian triathlete Tim Bentley. His devastating run…

Experience Leads to Victory

The event saw Donna Gould from South Australia take the women’s title. Donna came from…

1990 Nepean Triathlon Winner Brad Beven
The Biggest Ever Nepean Triathlon Field

Triathlon's popularity had soared in the late 1980’s and the 1990 event at Tench reserve…

nepean triathlon finishers tshirt 1989
Greg Welch Makes his Mark

By now, Ironman champions and the Nepean triathlon were building a special link. Louise Bonham…

1988 Nepean Triathlon Louise Bonham and Bernard Hinault
Louise Bonham Takes Her First Title

Another Ironman star to make her mark on the Nepean Triathlon was Louise Bonham who…

1987 Nepean Triathlon Article
Elite Competition Hots Up

Sue Turner, one of the first successful triathletes out of Western Australia took the women’s…

Course remains fixed

The race format began to be locked into place at Tench Reserve with a mostly…

Bike Racks Introduced

This era saw the ‘toaster’ bike racks become part of the race’s infrastructure. The infamous …

A Freezing Swim in the Nepean River

The first Sunday in December became the race date for a number years from 1984.…

Dominance of the Cyclists

It wasn’t until December 1983 that the next event was held. The course stayed the…

nepean triathlon finishers tshirt 1982
The First Nepean Triathon!

February 1982 saw a group of mates (after seeing the Hawaii Ironman’s TV coverage) put…

Nepean Triathlon Legends

The Legends

Four athletes have completed every Nepean Triathlon since 1982. An amazing achievement and undoubtedly a world record (well it should be).

The Nepean Triathlon  Legends are (from left): Greg Chapman, Peter Smith, Eugene Irvin and Greg Davies.

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