Goondiwindi once again delivered outstanding racing, and outstanding athletic performances as competitors took on the iconic 2026 Hell of the West, doubling as the QLD Long Course Triathlon Championships.
This year also marked the 35th anniversary of the Hell Of The West (HOTW) which received the title of AusTriathlon Event of the Year for 500–1000* competitors at the 2025 AusTriathlon Awards.
Renowned as one of Australia’s longest‑running and toughest long‑course races, athletes battled a 2km swim, 80km ride, and 20km run across the classic HOTW course, testing both endurance and resilience under challenging outback roads and freshwater river swim.
This year’s Championship event saw exceptional depth across all categories, with several standout performances and breakthrough victories from Queensland’s long‑course specialists.
Across the board, athletes showed the grit and determination that have defined Hell of the West over the last 35 years.
2026 QLD Long Course Champions – Age Group Winners
Female 20–24 Emily Larsen
Female 25–29 Melanie Clarke
Female 30–34 Georgie Hicks
Female 40–44 Edwina Woods
Female 45–49 Sally Tyben
Female 50–54 Wendy Holt
Female 55–59 Chrissie Bowie
Female 60–64 Marion Hermitage
Male 18–19 Mitchell Franks
Male 20–24 Thomas Hine
Male 25–29 Sam Dodds
Male 30–34 Andrew Nash
Male 35–39 Pieter van der Kooij
Male 40–44 Sean Richardson
Male 45–49 Shannon Ahern
Male 50–54 Jason Sams
Male 55–59 Ian Dominguez
Male 60–64 David Loader
Male 65–69 Allan John Moustoukas
Male 70–74 Phillip Hermitage
