IT WAS a case of the fast and the furious at Kingscliff on Saturday and Sunday when about 1000 people of all ages battled it out at the town's annual triathlon.

The organisation was commendable.

Starting at Cudgen Creek, events were designed to suit all ages and skill levels.

Winners of major distance triathlons got the Neville Salmon perpetual trophy, which commemorates the life of Mr Salmon who lost his life after a road accident in 2010.

The Olympic Open Men's event had Gold Coast's Samuel Betten winning by a long stretch.

"I was so tired at the end," he said.

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"I worked incredibly hard in training.

"I needed to go as deep as I could pain-wise to see what I had in the tank.

"It really paid off."

Winner of the Olympic Open Women's section Gillian Backhouse said she was "well and truly pooped" after the event.

"I knew I had a chance at winning, but it was really hard," she said.

The 21-year-old marine science student said she would "sleep it off."

"It really was an exhilarating feeling to come first over the finish line."

The Australian University Distance Running Championships also featured athletes competing from universities around Australia.

The Kingscliff Triathlon is an important part of Destination Tweed's sports tourism strategy.

The event has grown significantly over the years and brings to the town not just competitors but also their families.