Cheers of support erupted throughout the morning Saturday, August 14, at Dragon Lake as a total of 17 competitors came out to bike, run and or paddle while raising funds for the Gold Rush Cycling Club.

Organizer Angelo Sia said he only expected around a dozen people when he decided to host the Iron Dragon Triathlon.

“It went really well. It was amazing,” Sia said. “We even had two competitors in Alberta that did a proxy race, so it was kind of interesting.”

The pair from Edson, Alta. had learned about the triathlon through social media. Although wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from attending, they followed the exact distance of the three segments competing at the same time and day the race got underway in B.C.

Starting at 9 a.m. competitors took off from the Dragon Mountain Provincial Park parking lot biking through 15 kilometers of trails surrounded by forest.

The second stage consisted of a 10-kilometer run through the Wonderland Trail Network, wrapping up with a 10-kilometer paddle of Dragon Lake.

Participants later met up outside Iron Dragon Martial Arts across from Barkerville Brewing Co. for a raffle draw for prizes in the early evening.

The triathlon was able to pull in $300 for the Gold Rush Cycling Club.

“It’s not a whole bunch, but it’s a start,” Sia said.

Next year Sia hopes to have a road bike segment added for those who want to bike on a smoother terrain as well as an ultra bike course for participants who would rather bike than run.

“Hopefully, next year, we won’t have as many barriers so we can advertise and promote it a bit more,” Sia said, referring to the ongoing uncertainty this year resulting from the coronavirus and wildfires.

Read More: Two new Quesnel mountain biking trails completed on Wonderland

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Quesnel Cariboo Observer