5 LEG RELAY
The original Blackwood challenge. Five legs - take it on as a team or solo.
Spanning 60+ km from Jayes Bridge (located in the Shire of Boyup Brook) to Bridgetown, the relay course winds through bush tracks, private farmland and river crossings, following the contours of the Blackwood River.
Teams of five (or Ironman/Ironwoman solo entrants) compete across the following legs:
CANOE
7km
A stunning stretch of the Blackwood River, best paddled in a single kayak
Paddlers launch from Jayes Road, just west of Terry Road. An easy access site that opens onto a stretch of river testing technique, control and strategic navigation as much as raw paddling power. The course heads upstream against the current before turning back downstream past Jayes Bridge, with one mandatory portage around the Terry Road crossing along the way. Conditions vary with rainfall and water levels, so river briefings on race day are important. Exit is around 500m past Jayes Bridge, where your horse rider is waiting.
EQUESTRIAN
16km
A unique off-road trail ride through private farmland
A spectacular, scenic ride through private farmland with sweeping views of the Blackwood Valley and a genuinely unique leg in Australian event terms. The course has been refined over recent years to improve safety and footing for horse and rider, crossing gravel roads, paddocks and river adjacent tracks. Horses undergo a vet check before starting and a mandatory cool down vet check at the changeover, because their welfare is important. The leg finishes at Winnejup Bridge, handing over to your swimmer.
SWIM
1km
Cold but invigorating swim in the Blackwood River
Short, sharp and thrilling. Starting at Winnejup Bridge, swimmers head downstream before turning back upstream to finish where they started. A quick scramble up the riverbank brings you to the clearly marked handover zone, where your cyclist/bike is waiting.
CYCLE
37km
Finishing strong on gravel & road with undulating hills into Bridgetown
A genuinely scenic ride that tests endurance, strength and focus in equal measure. A short gravel section gives way to bitumen roads winding through rolling countryside, with steep climbs and fast descents that reward riders who've prepared properly - this is no easy cruise. The course finishes back on gravel as riders approach the Bridgetown Sports Ground, where crowds will be waiting to cheer the handover to the final leg.
RUN
10.5km
Bush tracks, bitumen roads & some tough hills to finish the challenge strong
A tough, triumphant finish to one of WA's most unique multi-discipline events. From the oval, the course winds through Four Seasons Estate and alongside the Railway tracks, with a mix of straight stretches and inclines that test pace, focus and footing right from the start. Some trail sections can be slippery, so take care underfoot. A downhill stretch offers some relief before the final climb up Whittell's Road and back into the oval for the finish.
COURSE MAPs
