Newton won the latest round of the Sprint Series in what was his first (competitive) triathlon for about three years.

But he showed the hiatus hadn’t had too much of an effect, heading home last round winner Shaun Betts,

and newcomer Rowan Beggs-French.

The women’s honours swung back the way of Mia Cottrell-Dormer.

She added to her opening round win, finishing ahead of Jodi Heeney, who won the two races in between, and Gunnedah’s Molly Lorimer.

“I had a really good swim and good bike,” Cottrell-Dormer said.

She missed the second and third rounds, the second while competing at the Forster half iron-man, where she finished second overall, and won her age division.

The last round she sat out.

On Sunday she led out of the pool and then put a bit more distance on Heeney on the bike, which she held through the run.

“I did my quickest swim today I’ve done for the 400m,” she said.

She’s been training hard the last couple of months, building up to the Australian Long Course Championships at Huskinson in six weeks’ time, and was happy with her overall time.

“On mine (watch), I did a minute quicker than my first race, which was good,” she said. “I’m a bit tired coming out of that block of training.

“I didn’t expect to go that fast.”

Newton was returning to Tamworth for the first time in about four years.

“It’s the first triathlon I’ve done in three years,” he said.

“I turn 40 this year and I wanted to get back into shape and do another iron man.

“This is the start of a long journey to get back into

condition.”

Sunday was the chance to have a hit-out before competing in the Goondiwindi Hell of the West. It will be his sixth Hell of the West, a race he has twice placed second overall in.

But he added, that was “back in the 90s”.

“I’m not expecting anything like that,” Newton said.

“My goal is to be competitive in my age group.”

He said he enjoyed racing at Kootingal.

“I really enjoyed the course.

“It was a good, hard run,” he said.

His race wasn’t without its mishaps though.

He struggled with his shirt transitioning from the swim to bike leg.

“Shaun got out of the pool probably 5-10 seconds ahead,” he said.

“By the time I did (get my shirt on), Anthony (Heeney) had got ahead of me.”

He quickly wheeled him in and then caught Betts “6km or 7km” into the bike.

“We rode together ‘til the run,” he said.

About 70 competed on Sunday, in what was the first race of the series this year.