SPECTATOR GUIDE
Planning to come and cheer? Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of the day — where to go, when to be there, how to get in and out, and what’s waiting for you at each stop.
1. CANOE START - JAYES BRIDGE AREA
Jayes Road, Boyup Brook
From 7:30am
Getting there
Park at Kavalam’s private property at the corner of Terry Road and Jayes Road, Boyup Brook. Marshals will direct you on arrival. Enter from either direction along Jayes Road but exit west toward Bridgetown when you leave — do not attempt to travel east via Muir Road as Winnejup Bridge is closed from approximately 9:00am to 12:00 noon.
What to watch
This is where the day kicks off. Watch the regatta-style canoe start on the Blackwood River upstream of the Terry Road Culvert. Walk down to the Terry Road culvert to see canoeists exit the water and carry their craft across to the south side — a great vantage point. Continue to the western side of Jayes Bridge to watch the returning canoeists coming back downstream. Note: pedestrians cannot cross the bridge as it remains open to traffic.
Facilities
Coffee van, portable toilets, medical facility on site.
2. EQUESTRIAN START AND CANOE END - CLARK’S PADDOCK
South of Jayes Road, Boyup Brook
From approximately 9:30am
Getting there
Leave your car parked at Kavalam’s paddock and walk east along the trail on the east side of the temporary laneway set up for horse movement. Spectator vehicles are not permitted into Clark’s Paddock due to horse activity and canoe retrieval.
What to watch
Watch canoeists exit the river, park their canoe and hand over the fob to their equestrian teammate in a roped-off spectator area. One of the most dramatic moments of the day — the transition from water to horse happens right in front of you.
Road access when leaving
Horse floats exit right out of the north side of Clark’s Paddock. All others turn left onto Jayes Road heading west. To reach Winnejup, take Flax Road north and turn left onto Winnejup Road toward Scott’s Paddock. Do not attempt to cross Winnejup Bridge — it is closed from approximately 9:00am to 12:00 noon.
3. TRIATHLON SWIM START — BLACKWOOD BEND
61 Scott-Meares Road, Winnejup (private property)
From approximately 9:30am
Getting there
Follow signage off Winnejup Road onto Scott-Meares Road and onto private property. Park under marshal direction. Public address and music will be set up on site.
What to watch
Watch triathlon swimmers congregate at the Gazebo, enter the water and set off on their 1,500m swim downstream toward Winnejup Bridge. Follow your swimmer along the river bank toward the west to watch them exit on the west side of Winnejup Bridge. Do not enter the fenced thicket area around the Green Cottage — the terrain is unpredictable. Winnejup Bridge is closed to traffic and provides the best elevated vantage point for watching the swim.
Facilities
Portable toilets on site.
4. EQUESTRIAN END, FIVE-LEG SWIM AND CYCLE START — SCOTT’S SOUTH PADDOCK
Scott-Meares Road, Winnejup (private property)
From approximately 10:00am
Getting there
Follow signage off Winnejup Road into Scott’s South Paddock and park under marshal direction. Winnejup Bridge is closed to eastbound traffic from approximately 9:00am to 12:00 noon — access from the east is via Flax Road north.
What to watch
Watch Five-Leg relay swimmers receive the fob from their horse rider and enter the water on the north side of Winnejup Bridge Reserve. Swimmers head 500m downstream before turning back and returning to exit at the bridge — Winnejup Bridge is the best viewing point for this. Once out of the water, swimmers transition to their waiting cyclist along the fenceline bordering Winnejup Road. Watch cyclists gather in Scott’s South Paddock and depart west along Winnejup Road. You can follow the cyclists for part of their journey as you head toward Bridgetown.
Facilities
Coffee van, portable toilets, medical facility on site.
Road access when leaving
Head west along Winnejup Road toward Bridgetown. Note: from approximately 11:00am to 12:30pm, all traffic approaching the Bridgetown Greater Sports Ground will be diverted along Elwins Road. Follow the signed route — left at Henderson Road, right onto Kangaroo Gully Road past Bridgetown Gardens Estate, right into Turner Road toward Steere Street and Clovers Stores, then follow signs toward Boyup Brook and enter Les Woodhead Avenue one way into the Sports Ground.
5. CYCLE VANTAGE POINTS — ALONG THE ROUTE
Cycling vantage points along the 37km course are limited but cyclists can be spotted at the neutral zone crossings on the Bridgetown–Boyup Brook Road, and along Petterson and Kendall Roads as they make their return toward Bridgetown. Local spectators in the Boyup–Greenbushes Road and Kendall Road areas may catch cyclists in action. The best organised viewing point for the cycle finish is at the horse stall area on the southern side of the oval at the Bridgetown Greater Sports Ground, where cyclists transition to their runner.
6. CYCLE FINISH AND RUN START — BRIDGETOWN GREATER SPORTS GROUND
Les Woodhead Avenue, Bridgetown
From approximately 11:00am
Getting there
Follow signage off Bridgetown–Boyup Brook Road onto Les Woodhead Avenue. Les Woodhead Avenue is one way from approximately 11:00am to 2:00pm. Marshals will direct you into parking areas on arrival. Parking may be tight — allow extra time. If leaving the Sports Ground, follow the one-way track to the north side of the parking area and re-enter Bridgetown–Boyup Brook Road near Krsuls Road.
What to watch
Watch runners complete three-quarters of an anti-clockwise lap of the oval before heading out on course through the gates north of the Football Club rooms. Spectators must stay out of competitor lane zones but can watch from the sidelines as runners depart toward the Shire Depot trails.
Along the run route, runners can be spotted emerging at the bottom of Limousin View cul-de-sac, heading up onto Sunridge Drive, along Railway Terrace and the Rail Trail, before the tough climb back up Whittell’s Road and across a private driveway returning to the Sports Ground. Residents of Four Seasons Estate and surrounding roads — please be aware of runners on your road systems from approximately 11:00am to 1:30pm. Reduced speed limits will be in place.
Facilities
Coffee, food and refreshments from 10:30am. Bar open from 11:00am until 6:00pm. Permanent and portable toilets. Medical facility on site. MC and commentary from 10:45am. Live music and entertainment from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm.
7. FINISH LINE — BRIDGETOWN GREATER SPORTS GROUND
From approximately 12:00 noon
Stay put — this is where the day comes to life. Watch competitors cross the finish arch, cheer them home and enjoy the atmosphere. Medals are presented at the finish arch, with the prize giving and awards ceremony at 2:00pm.
Same facilities as above — food, bar, music, entertainment all continuing through the afternoon.
AFTER THE EVENT
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Camping: Bridgetown Showgrounds, Peninsula Road (pre-booked through Race Roster)
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Blackwood Cockatoo Distillery: Free live music, food and drinks all day — contact Rachel@blackcockatoodistillery.com.au
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Other venues across Bridgetown and the surrounding towns are open throughout the day
ROAD SUMMARY — KEY CLOSURES AND DIVERSIONS
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Winnejup Bridge — closed to all vehicles approximately 9:00am to 12:00 noon. Use Flax Road north as your alternative.
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Les Woodhead Avenue — one way from approximately 11:00am to 2:00pm.
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Elwins Road diversion — in place from approximately 11:00am to 12:30pm for westbound traffic approaching the Sports Ground. Follow signed route via Henderson Road, Kangaroo Gully Road and Turner Road.
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Whittell’s Road and Four Seasons Estate — reduced speed limits in place from approximately 11:00am to 1:30pm due to runner traffic.