The Hunter River Times

BY ALEX TIGANI

Many footballers are counting down until the return of their clubs’ pre-season training.

Local goal-keeper Stuart Plant has already made waves.

The former Singleton Striker, who now plays for NPL club Weston Workers, was all smiles last week when participating in his first triathlon.

The 30-year-old finished second on the Super Sprint Short Course when competing in the Singleton Triathlon Club’s opening event of the season.

“I have always been interested since I was a kid because my uncle (Robert Littlewood) used to compete in triathlons in the Isle of Man,” Plant told The Hunter River Times.

“Playing football I have never really given it a proper crack, I thought maybe one day.

“It was only when I was watching the Olympics that I thought, I really want to give it a red hot go.

“So, I bought myself a cheap bike, did a bit of training and thought I’d use it as pre-season training for soccer as well.”

Plant’s time of 48.42 was shy of Lachlan Jones’ 45.39 while Ara‐Jane Reading held off Josh Murchie for third spot with a time of 54.30.

Jason Farrell was the fastest on the long course with a time of 1:03.57 ahead of Shannon Bowe (1:09.08) while Abbey‐Rose O’Toole topped the list on the enticer course (24.36).

“Everyone was very approachable which is a bit bizarre coming from a competitive soccer background where you have to beat the competition,” Plant added.

“It was more about getting everybody across the finish line kind of thing.

“The long-distance participants, they were coming past us and even cheered us on which was nice.”