Course hails Anzacs

James McPherson led home a small field of adult and junior triathletes late last month to win the Hedland Tri Sports club's special race to commemorate Anzac Day.

Uniquely, the club and the local Returned and Services League created a triathlon using modified swim, run and bicycle leg distances that related to events from Gallipoli.

This included a 500m swim leg, which corresponded to the depth of infiltration into the Turkish defences by Anzac forces, and a 26.111km bike ride, representing the 26,111 Australian casualties during the Gallipoli campaign.

The final 8km run leg related to the distance Australian and British soldiers were able to penetrate the Turkish defences at Gallipoli after landing at dawn on April 25, 1915.

Tackling the Anzac course, McPherson was first out of the pool and continued to build his lead on the bike before cruising home on the run.

Colin Wu was next home over the Anzac distances.

In the short course race, Luke Grossmith took the win, while Bailey Hayman was the first junior home.