mmg.com.au

Shepparton triathlete Chris Pye wanted to test himself yesterday.

The 29-year-old didn’t just want to finish the latest Summer Series triathlon event — he wanted to see how hard he could go.

‘‘All the boys were going good today and I had a good swim for a change,’’ Pye said.

‘‘I wanted to go as hard as I could and if I blew up, whatever (I didn’t care). Normally I try to be a bit conservative and try and make sure I get to the end strong.

‘‘But I haven’t really done it this year, so I wanted to go as hard as I could and if I ended up going slower because of it then so be it.’’

Pye wound up streeting the field in the 500m swim, 18km bike ride and 4km run, clocking a time of 49 minutes and five seconds.

Danny Muldeary (50:36), Michael Hill (51:12), Jaron Wilkie (52:19) and Mark Lambourn (53:05) rounded out the top five.

‘‘I was really happy with my swim. I’ve been working hard on that with Willy (O’Callaghan, Shepparton swimming coach),’’ Pye said.

‘‘She’s been great and it’s paying off a little bit, so rather than having to play catch up all the time, I get on the bike near the fast guys and go for it.

‘‘I always want to win and do well, but winning was probably a bonus more than anything ... the main goal is to come out and perform to your best on the day.’’

Pye is contesting Sunday’s South West Sufferfest, a long-course triathlon at Warrnambool that includes a 2km swim, 80km bike ride and 20km run.

Nathalia teenager Matilda Terry easily claimed women’s honours in yesterday’s race and was seventh overall in a time of 54:55.

‘‘It was pretty hard and my legs are a bit sore, but by the last lap of the run I was getting into it and I felt good towards the end,’’ Terry said.

‘‘The ride’s always hard, with all the little corners and fast bits, but it’s a fast course and I like it.

‘‘I just wanted to go my hardest and do my best and, hopefully, have a good average (speed) on my bike.’’

Danielle Meyers (1.11:58) and Anna Janson (1.19:49) completed the women’s podium.

Terry’s next big challenge is the ITU Triathlon World Cup series under-19 race at Mooloolaba in three weeks’ time.

‘‘I’m a bit nervous already and the next two weeks will be hard (training),’’ she said.

‘‘There’s no-one my age around here (who is a triathlete), so I’m not used to competing against them, except when I go to Melbourne and I know they’re all fast and I know they’ll definitely be fast there.

‘‘Mum and Dad keep telling me, ‘You’re just going for experience and just do your best’.’’

Pye thanked Shepparton Tri Club officials and volunteers for their efforts in organising a ‘‘professional’’ race.