HIGH-ADRENALIN adventure event has been announced for the Southern Barossa.

A premium-class triathlon will be held at the Warren Reservoir and Mount Crawford Forest, near Williamstown, on Saturday, October 16.

The inaugural event, known as the Reservoir Outdoor Adventure Race, or ROAR, will be a race of three disciplines; kayaking, mountain biking and trail running, with a range of distances to suit all adventurers.

ROAR committee chair Lyn Venning said the event was expected to attract competitors from near and far, particularly those who followed adventure racing events as a major sport.

“While this will be a ‘community event’ in that it will attract families and those who just want to give triathlon a try, more importantly we expect it will attract elite athletes who follow the sport around the country, COVID restrictions permitting this year,” she said.

“At a senior level, ROAR will adhere to the sport’s strict rules and in the years to come, we anticipate it will find its place on the international adventure race circuit.

“For novices and younger family participants, never will there be a better chance to revel in the reservoirs, conquer the hill climbs and traverse the trails of the spectacular Southern Barossa.”

With the event to be held in the historic forests near Williamstown, Ms Venning said younger participants might catch sight of the Mount Crawford Yowie – a mythical two-legged ape-like hairy beast, which legend has it has been seen in the state’s forests, from Mount Crawford to Kuitpo.

“In Indigenous stories, what we know as a ‘Yowie’ today is known as Doolagahl, and Indigenous history records many sightings and interactions with Doolagahl over the centuries,” Ms Venning said.

“More latterly, some 25 years ago, SA’s Yowie was reportedly spotted near Mount Crawford and as recently as 2015 and 2020, forest hikers have reported seeing what they described as a Yowie on the forest trail in the Adelaide Hills’ Sixth Creek area.

“We expect our ROAR activities in the Mount Crawford Forest will attract the interest of Doolagahl, so we will be asking competitors to watch out for – and make friends with – our Yowie, should they see it.”

Athletes and adventurers of all levels wanting to participate in ROAR can register – or find further information – by going to the event’s website roarbarossa.com.au.

The event is supported by SA Water’s Reservoirs Partnership Program, the State Government, Forestry SA, Barossa Council and the Southern Barossa Alliance.