How a relentless year six work ethic forged Townsend's international dreams

Lachlan Townsend learned what hard work meant at a young age.

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Picture him as a year six kid in Dubbo, no formal coach, no structured plan - just sprinting as hard as he could around a local duck pond before school every single morning.

Lachlan Townsend (middle) with his dad Shawn (left), brother Cooper, partner Anna Walsh, and mum Prue (right). Picture: supplied.

"I was at St Mary's Primary School in Dubbo and I remember training for a school cross country in Sydney," Townsend said.

"Around the duck pond I would try to improve my time every day...I soon realised this probably wasn't the best way to train but it was the only way I knew how.

"I ended up getting a medal at state cross country that year, and I loved the fact that if I were to work hard at something, then results would eventually come. I was hooked after that."

Today, that same relentless drive has taken him to Sydney, where the 23-year-old balances a full-time career as an exercise physiologist with 80-plus-kilometre training weeks while targeting international selection.

"I'm working towards the Half Marathon at the World University Athletics Championships held in South Korea in August 2027," he said.

"I'm still eligible, and qualification for the half marathon is around one hour seven minutes....my personal best is one hour five minutes so I'm hoping to continue my form into next year to give my best for qualification."

For all runners that is an approximate pace of three minutes and four seconds per kilometre.

While the move from Dubbo to Sydney was initially challenging, Townsend found his footing thanks to the support of Sydney University and elite training partners Drew and Kurt Fryer.

"My experience in Sydney has been second to none...it took a while for me to settle in but with the support from Sydney University, I've been able to really enjoy my time here," he said.

"The Fryers have been able to help me with my running and I'd say I've helped them too."

Lachlan Townsend after one of his races. Picture: Supplied.

Townsend comes from a strong sporting pedigree as the son of former Dubbo CYMS coach Shawn Townsend, with his younger brother Cooper also making a name for himself on the footy field.

"My family is extremely supportive of my running....often all five of us will be at the track or at a cross country event and they'll watch me run which is special to me," he said.

"Same goes with their sport, I love watching them play footy and netball.

"Without the support from mum and dad particularly early on, I'd be nowhere near the person nor the runner I am today."

Townsend holds deep gratitude for his family, fondly recalling how his dad would drop everything just to watch him compete.

"Dad would finish a day's work and drive up and back to Sydney to watch me race or to give me a lift before I could drive," he said.

"That's something that I value so much and am extremely grateful for.

"It's the sort of stuff I want to be like for my kids."

Under the guidance of his mentors and coaches, Townsend sticks to a strict schedule that claims most of his spare time.

Monday brings a 13-kilometre run and strength training, followed on Tuesday by a 6-kilometre morning run and an 18-kilometre evening interval session. After repeating Monday's session on Wednesday, Thursday delivers another double-session day with a morning run and a 12-kilometre track session.

But don't worry, Friday is a rest day. That is, before he gets up on Saturday for a threshold run, followed by a light two-hour Sunday run. Piece of cake.

"Balancing full time work and training is challenging, but I have great mentors who make it all seem possible...though it is still a work in progress," he said.

Athletics NSW and RunNSW awarded Townsend the 2026 Distance Runner of the Year, an honour forged by the same relentless mindset he built in primary school. Yet, ever humble, Townsend admits he wasn't expecting the award at all.

"It is nice to be rewarded and recognised for a bit of consistency... I guess it goes to show that you don't necessarily have to be the most talented runner, but if you continue to show up and do your best always, then success can follow," he said.

Despite his rising national profile, Townsend remains quick to credit his success to his Central West upbringing.

"I've been extremely lucky to be around some special clubs that have fostered my growth as a person and as a runner," he said.

"Clubs like St Johns Junior Rugby League, Dubbo Athletics Club, Parkrun, St Johns College all hold a special place in my life.

"They played a massive role in my progression through my early teenage years to become the person I am today which I credit to them."

Townsend in action. Picture: Supplied.

Josh Willcox is not only helping pick up the pieces with Newtown Cricket Club in the Whitney Cup and T20 Megahit; he is also deeply passionate about country cricket and organising events in the bush to expand pathways for young talent.

Twilight Women's Cricket Smash is in Dubbo this week. Picture: Supplied.

On Wednesday, October 21, Cricket NSW Far West Cricket Manager Willcox will welcome players to the Girls Smash and Women's Twilight Smash in Dubbo.

Kicking off at 5pm at Lady Cutler South Ovals, the program will bring young players together in a supportive environment to build their confidence, learn from expert coaches, and enjoy a day of cricket.

An hour later, the Women's Twilight Smash will begin an exciting social event open to players of all skill levels and abilities. Players aged 16 and over can sign up individually or grab a group of friends to enter as a team.

Willcox is excited to bring the event to Dubbo, noting that both sessions focus on developing skills and having fun alongside fellow cricketers.

"Whether you're just starting out or have played before, we'd love to see you there," he said.

The event comes on the heels of a successful pre-season girls' workshop and holiday Colour Bash, each drawing more than 30 young cricketers from across the western region.

The event will be a great chance to catch a glimpse of the Central West's rising young cricket talent.

Orange residents have grown to love the weekly parkruns organised by dedicated volunteers and national sponsors, but this weekend will be extra special.

On Saturday, October 24, Orange parkrun will celebrate its 10th anniversary, having first launched in the town in 2016.

Gosling Creek has welcomed countless runners over the years, from those striving for a personal best and friends walking and chatting, to locals and visitors simply looking to enjoy the outdoors.

Orange parkrun event director Sue Klose reflected on her time welcoming the community to the course and revealed just how much participation has boomed over the past decade.

"We were one of the earliest parkruns in regional NSW," she said.

"Since that time, we've held over 450 parkrun events at Gosling Creek Reserve, attracting over 10,000 participants over the years, and involving more than 1,000 different individuals as volunteers."

The popular event continues to bring the community together, drawing more than 300 runners and walkers each weekend.

Saturday's celebration kicks off bright and early at 7.45am with a Welcome to Country, followed by opening remarks from Mayor Tony Mileto, Phil Donato, and representatives from parkrun Australia.

The 5-kilometre run kicks off at 8am, followed by finish-line celebrations complete with live music, coffee, and birthday cake.

When Ness Clayton set out to walk more than 200 kilometres from Walgett to Lightning Ridge for breast cancer awareness, some thought she was crazy.

But on October 15, the Walgett mother took her determination to the open highway, pushing through two sprained ankles to raise awareness for breast cancer victims.

"A lot of people thought I was a bit insane," she said.

Clayton has always cared deeply for her community, stepping up to help Walgett friends and neighbours impacted by the disease.

"I know so many people in our area have been affected...I've been to their homes, I've made them cakes, I've taken them to hospital and sat with them while they go through treatment," she said.

"It's all those little things that can help spread love."

Ness Clayton is walking 200km to raise awareness for breast cancer victims and survivors. Picture: Supplied.

Throughout her journey, Clayton was backed by her 21-year-old son, who fully supported her mission and even offered to cover household expenses while she was away from work.

"My son said it's alright mum I'll cover things for a while," she said.

As a young girl, Clayton's life was deeply shaped by a World War II veteran. After she helped him fix a flat tyre, he left her with a piece of advice that stayed with her forever: with just her bare hands, she had the power to make a difference in someone's life.

"I've always had a passion for walking from when I was little because of what our veterans did from our area... like walking from Walgett to Narrabri to enlist," she said.

"It just really impacts you in a way that's sort of hard to explain.

"I believe in doing this to not only stand up for my own community, but to show women if we have hope and believe in ourselves then we can achieve anything."

With breast cancer having touched so many lives close to her, raising funds for patients in treatment became Clayton's ultimate motivation throughout the gruelling trek.

"By doing something small like this, hopefully it can give people who are fighting or have survived the funds they need," she said.

Walking 200 kilometres is bound to take a heavy toll on anyone, but even physical exhaustion wasn't enough to slow Clayton down.

"When you're in pain, you think of those people that you're doing it for...it was really hard because I got two sprained ankles," she said.

"But what else are you supposed to do...you just keep going."

The local community backed Clayton every step of the way. Drivers Australia Wide signed on as her official road escorts, one supporter gave her brand-new walking shoes to break in, and locals pitched in to smash her fundraising goal.

"It's just unbelievable, words can't describe it," she said.

"Every little thing just makes such a big difference."

The Central West frequently excels across the sporting landscape, and following OzTag's successful debut last year, sailing is emerging as the region's latest trend.

"You don't need to live on the coast or own a boat to enjoy sailing. We've got this fantastic waterway right here in the Central West, and we want more people to discover it," Commodore and Australian Sailing Coach Rene Reimers said.

Carcoar Dam Sailing Club is hosting its open day on Sunday, October 25, welcoming local families and residents who share a passion, curiosity, or simple interest in sailing.

This marks a major milestone for the region; Sailability Central West is joining the open day to provide inclusive opportunities and highlight the talents of sailors of all abilities.

Visitors will have the chance to connect with the sailing community, tour the facilities, and explore available programs. An added bonus will be, if the sun stays out, the club will also offer a free introductory sailing session.

"Whether you're six or sixty, have never stepped into a boat or are looking to return to sailing, we'd love you to come along, meet the crew and see what's possible," Reimers said.

Recently named the 2026 Australian Sailing NSW/ACT Club of the Year, the accredited organisation continues to demonstrate its exceptional dedication to both athletes and volunteers.

"Our club has grown enormously over the past few years, and winning Club of the Year is a wonderful recognition of the volunteers who have worked so hard to make sailing accessible to our regional communities," Reimers said.

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