Professional Iron Woman Regan Hollioake took out a fourth David Meade Superclass triathalon in the women’s category on Saturday, January 18. Photos: Matthew Kappos.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Professional triathlete Regan Hollioake took out the women’s category in the David Meade Superclass triathlon at Echuca Moama Triathlon Club’s Multisport Weekend on Saturday, January 18.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
This feat equals the female record for most wins at the event, joining Sophie Hawkins, who took out the title in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2012 with four wins each.
Hollioake is the first woman to win four-in-a-row, with previous champion David Meade, for which the event is named after, the only other athlete to win four on the bounce and still holds the overall record of eight wins.
In her first year as a professional triathlete, Hollioake earned a sub-nine-hour time at her Ironman Pro debut in New Zealand, that saw her land fourth place.
She won the Ironman Australia female championship that contributed to her finishing 45th place in the world in the 2024 season.
With those credentials, you could see how Hollioake was able to win the women’s category of the David Meade Superclass in just over an hour; in a time of 1 hour and 37 seconds.
“It is pretty special to win four in a row, it is a great event, there aren’t many of these regional events around, so it is important to support them,” Hollioake said.
“This is one of the best regional races on the calendar, so I am thrilled to go win another one.”
Hollioake emphasised her joy in being able to stay in Echuca-Moama for the weekend of the event and help present the area to visitors.
She also reflected on the hard work put in by the volunteers of Echuca Moama Triathlon Club to keep the event running annually.
“We have the swim tomorrow morning so we will do that again, having the two races means I get to come to Echuca-Moama and stay for the whole weekend which is really nice,” she said.
“It is a beautiful place to visit, and I am proud to show off the local area to people from across the state.
“The Echuca Tri Club is amazing, it is completely run by volunteers, so the people who put this wonderful event together give up so much time away from their families, life and work.
“We are so lucky to have such a dedicated group of volunteers because it is a lot to put together an event like this.”
Hollioake also placed first overall in the Cavalier Homes Wharf to Winery superclass swim on Sunday, January 19, crossing the finish line at a time of 27 minutes, 38 seconds.
Young gun Bailey Tuddenham from Ballarat won the overall superclass event, finishing the triathlon in under half-an-hour.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
An up-and-coming multi-sport talent from Ballarat, Bailey Tuddenham, took out the men’s category and was the overall winner of the superclass triathlon.
Tuddenham is quickly becoming one of Australia’s premier triathletes, in just his first season of triathlon racing he claimed the title of under-19 Age Group World Champion at the 2024 Age Group World Triathlon Championships in Spain.
The 18-year-old crossed the finish line for the Superclass Triathlon at Hopwood Gardens in a time of 55 minutes and 38 seconds.
Tuddenham reflected on the event and highlighted his excitement to come to Echuca-Moama and participate annually.
“It is a great local event, I look forward to coming to it every year, it is a good little field, but it is also one of the hardest, the heat is something else, it’s brutal,” he said.
“It is a real dynamic course and credit to Daniel Luke who came second, he really pushed me out there, it took every bit of me to get that win, so I am stoked.
“It is the first race back after the off-season, so it is a great way to get back into it, so super stoked to get the win and see what else the year holds.
“I’m a country boy from Ballarat, so I love getting up to Echuca, it is a great town, a great community and a great event, it is definitely one of the favourites on the calendar, it is awesome.”
In other results, Donna Todd placed first overall in the Aqua Bike, finishing in 47 minutes and 16 seconds with male winner and second place overall Pat Guiney finishing just seven seconds later with a time of 47 minutes and 23 seconds.
Jake Woolston was the overall winner of the 7-10 year junior triathlon, finishing with a time of 13 minutes and nine seconds while the female winner and second place overall, Indi Walker followed closely behind, clocking in at 13 minutes and 24 seconds.
In the 11-14 year triathlon, Seb Walker took out the competition with a time of 21 minutes and 47 seconds, followed by female winner and overall seventh place Elka Connolly who came in just under half-an-hour at 28 minutes, 23 seconds.
Oliver Ward placed first overall in the 7-10 year duathalon with a time of 14 minutes and 16 seconds, with sixth-placed Izzy Lewen winning the winners' category at 18 minutes and nine seconds.
In the 11-14 year duathalon it was Taj Walker who won the overall event in 23 minutes and two seconds while fifth-placed Kyla Collins was the first girl over the line in 29 minutes and 20 seconds.
