Bluewater triathlon closing in on record attendance ahead of weekend races

The Bluewater triathlon fundraiser for Bright’s Grove’s St. John in the Wilderness Anglican Church is on pace to attract a record crowd of athletes Saturday.

The event began in the early 1980s and the late Ken Walker took it on in the mid-1990s as a fundraiser for the church, a more than 160-year-old parish in Bright’s Grove.

Walker’s daughter, Haley Walker, is now director of the race that had its first post-pandemic event last summer.

“It’s going really, really well this year, I think,” Walker said.

“It’s hard to imagine at this point, but last year stuff was still just opening up,” and there was uncertainty about large events, she said.

There were 247 athletes registered for the adult races on Saturday last year, she said.

Before the pandemic, registration was typical around 280 to 300.

“This year, I think folks are excited and ready to help so all of our volunteers are back in full force,” Walker said.

About 105 volunteers help out each year.

“In the summer, the church buzzes with the triathlon,” Walker said. “Everyone has the job that they do, and they’ve done it for 30 years.”

Athlete signups this year appear to be coming in at a record level, she said.

There were 316 participants signed up as of Monday afternoon.

“I don’t know what’s in the air that’s getting people to sign up,” Walker said. “I guess people just want to get out and do something.”

Registration closes Friday for the event that includes Olympic and sprint-length triathlon, duathon and aquabike (swim and cycling) races Saturday and a popular Ironkid triathlon for kids on Sunday.

“Usually, we get a fair amount of people signing up in the last week,” Walker said.

“The race has never sold out,” which is 350 athletes, she said.

“We’ll see if we get there.”

Athletes taking part in the races include those from the Sarnia area as well as many traveling from outside of the area, Walker said.

“One comment that I get through the triathlon community is that the race still feels like a small community event, but it still is kind of competitive,” she said.

It’s also “very approachable for beginners” and many athletes include local residents who have always wanted to try a triathlon, Walker said.

Of the 300 or more signed up this year, about 160 or so haven’t taken part in the race before, she said.

“I was under the impression we get a lot of folks year-after-year, and we do,” Walker said. “But we also get a lot of folks who said it’s their first time ever doing a triathlon.”

There is a new 80-plus age category this year.

“Now, I think, in our event, the youngest folks are 16” in the adult races “and we have two people in the 80-plus age group,” Walker said.

“It’s nice to see people be so joyfully active through their entire lives,” she said.

Sunday’s Ironkid race is already at its capacity of 125 youngsters.

“We’ve got a waiting list as long as my arm,” Walker said. “It’s great to see people getting their kids back out and active.”

This year’s schedule includes a package pickup and spaghetti dinner Friday evening at the church. Saturday’s races start from Bright’s Grove elementary school and nearby Mike Weir Park, with the “post-race feast” at 10:30 am and the awards ceremony at noon at the school.

“Our event is famous for its post-race feast,” including its butter tarts, Walker said.

This year’s race shirt celebrates the butter tarts, she said.

While church kitchen volunteers are excited about the record number of athletes, “they’re baking their socks off” to get ready to feed them, Walker said.

She will be competing in the Olympic triathlon this year.

“I consider it quality control,” Walker said.

“My time’s not always the best because I do stop and move a few signs, and hug every volunteer that I can see, but I have a great time out there.”

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