The World Champs may be over, but the racing isn't. Over the weekend the Queensland Triathlon Series had is first race for the series down at Robina over the fast and flat course. Distances included the Olympic Distance  (1.5/40/10), Sprint (750/24/5), Enticer (300/8/2.5) and rounded it out with the Kool Kids (100/2/500)

There may have been a small contingent of Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Protector Aluminium Athletes competing but that didn't stop the podium express or results. There were a few backing up from World Champs, but there were also some athletes making their first race for the season as well.

In the Olympic Distance we had 3 race and walked away with 3 wins in their respective categories. All 3 were backing up from Worlds. Michael Woodcock led the charge with a win in the 45-49 Males and 12th Overall. Pauline Ashley won the 45-49 Females and was 9th Female overall, while Brett Stalley took out the 55-59 Males.

The Sprint Distance had an extra 4km on it due to the road configuration. Nicholas Hull hit the ground running taking out 30-34 Male and 5th Overall. Lucy Bowden backing up from World Champs pushed the bike hard to take 2nd 25-29 Female and 2nd Female Overall. As always in a very competitive age group Ryan Marsh did what he could do to take 7th 14-15 Years Male. Some very close racing in that age group.

While in the Teams, Tara Partridge and Tania Gover needed a longer warm up so they decided to ride from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast on the Saturday and team up with Kelly Enright on race day. Must of work as they landed on the top of podium with the win in the Female Teams. While Dad and Daughter team of Jordan and Evy Gover  Teamed up in the mixed teams to finish 5th.

Mia Davis just missed the podium in the Kool Kids with a 4th 7-9. The rest of the Juniors of Heidi Craig, Carter Davis, Scott Marsh, Thomas Beaney and Oscar Starr Thomas all performed well in the respective categories and distances. On the Saturday they had an Open Water Swim with Ryan Marsh 2nd 500m and Jordan Gover 2nd 1000m landing both on the podium.

The Annual Twilight Bay Run was held on Saturday afternoon at Wynnum where Chloe Turner lined up in the 5km dash with her finishing 5th Female Overall and 2nd 18-39. The previous weekend Cycling Queensland held their State Individual Time Trial Championships. Scott Marsh had a great ride to finish 3rd U/15 while older Bro Ryan Marsh was 5th U/17

Well done to all that raced. Full Results Below
QTS # 1 - Robina - 23.09.18
Olympic Distance - 1.5/40/10
Michael Woodcock - 1st Place 45-49 Years Male - 12th Overall
Pauline Ashley - 1st Place 45-49 Years Female - 9th Female Overall
Brett Stalley - 1st Place 55-59 Years Male

Sprint Distance - 750/24/5
Nicholas Hull - 1st Place 30-34 Years Male - 5th Overall
Lucy Bowden - 2nd Place 25-29 Years Female - 2nd Female Overall
Ryan Marsh - 7th Place 14-15 Years Male
Sprint Teams
Tania Gover / Tara Partridge / Kelly Enright - 1st Place Female Teams
Jordan Gover / Evy Gover - 5th Place Mixed Teams 

Enticer - 300/8/2.5
Zoe Davis - 22nd U/14 Years Female
Oscar Starr Thomas - 31st Place U/14 Years Male
Scott Marsh - 40th Place U/14 Years Male

Kool Kids - 100/2/500
Mia Davis - 4th Place 7-9 Years Female
Heidi Craig - 16th Place 10-11 Years Female
​Thomas Beaney - 18th Place 7-9 Years Male
Carter Davis - 22nd Place 7-9 Years Male

Queensland Cycling ITT State Championships - 17.09.18
Scott Marsh - 3rd Place U/15 Years Junior Male
Ryan Marsh - 5th Place U/17 Years Junior Male

Twilight Bay Run - Wynnum - 22.09.18 - 5km
Chloe Turner - 2nd 18-39 Years Female - 5th Female Overall

What an amazing job the Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Protector Aluminium Athletes did over the 5 days at the World Triathlon Championships on the Gold Coast with the Age Group Sprint Distance on Thursday the 13th, ITU Junior on Saturday 15th and the culmination of Sunday the 16th with Age Group Olympic Distance and WTS Men. The action was fast and furious at all levels of competition and can't believe the results that unfolded.

The count
20 Athletes
2 x Places - Both 2nd
9 Athletes in the Top 10 - 2 x 2nd, 1 x 4th, 1 x 5th, 2 x 6th, 1 x 7th, 1 x 8th, 1 x 10th
14 Athletes in Top 15 - 1 x 12th, 1 x 13th, 2 x 14th, 1 x 15th

With racing there are always the ups and downs. A few seconds quicker here, a transition a little quicker, the 1 Percenters, change the outcome of the performances. We had so many close to the podium, that a few things that went the athletes way we could of seen a few more on the podium. But that is racing and the crew did an amazing job with some unbelievable results. The early morning starts when it was dark cold and gloomy to the late arvo's finishing in the dark. The hard work was rewarded and I couldn't have asked any more of you all.

In the Sprint distance on the Thursday, some amazing racing. We had 9 toe the line over the draft legal format. For some this was their first race in a draft legal format. It was on from the start and the swim held the key to setting up the race for each of the athletes. Matt Wolstencroft and Jordan Gover ripped it up in the 45-49 years to lead off the bike with the initial winner. Matt went on to finish 2nd while Jordan was 6th. 

Chloe Turner just missed running down the 3rd place girl by a matter of seconds to finish 4th. Michael Hooper was 7th which saw him 20 secs off the podium. Gary Turner had a great race to take 13th, with Maddi Dutton and Maureen Cummings both 14th. Tania Gover, does it with a  smile each time, but serious you are one tough cookie. You epitomise what the sport is about and to finish 15th....Legend!!! Emma Dann rounded out the 9 with 35th. Not the best prep with Grade 12 exams and overall school pressure but you race well with the limited training you were able to do.

Sunday morning greeted the Olympic Distance Athletes with a  call the night before to ban disc wheels based on the weather forecast. It did cause a few dramas and fortunately the wind didn't pick up as expected. A massive kudos to the Race Organisers as if that wind had of turned up earlier there could of been some carnage. I know they copped a lot of flack over it, but the right call was made based on the predicted forecast.

We had another 9 athletes toe the line, with Matt Wolstencroft backing up from the Sprint distance and silver medal. Matt went on to take 6th. Kate Schultz you are one very determined and tough cookie. With limited running you led off the bike and struggled your way thru to hit the podium in 2nd place. Well done to You and Brodie Gardner. Lucy Bowden, now you may not had the performance that we were searching for, but you fought your way with determination to a great position in 8th Place. Still a great result and I know there was nothing left in the tank. Tasha Heikkila rounded out our top 10's with a  10th Place. Another determined performance with the pressures of Grade 12 but you dug deep for that.

The ever consistent Brett Stalley aka "Guns". Another one interrupted preparations, but you moved thru the field after the swim to continue to catch one at a time to finish in 12th. In an extremely competitive age group, Michael Woodcock, along with his hectic workload, did an amazing job. The way you finished that run off shows the hard work is paying off with a 38th. The Doc, Charlotte Durand, had a stint of night shifts leading into the race which wasn't ideal but had no choice and got on with her business with a 10 min PB in 39th. Pauline Ashley battled her way to the end, with an interrupted prep, to finish 54th. While Sandii Rixon has improved immensely since joining SCTA, as a FIFO worker its not easy balancing it all but you raced well to finish off with a 58th and a smile on the face.


Romy Wolstencroft lined up in the ITU Junior Female on the Saturday. This was a journey that started 3.5 years ago. From that first initial talk at Moreton Bay Tri to lining up against the Worlds best Juniors. I know I didn't get to finish the journey, but it was great to see you mix it up with them and take them on. You have come a long way in that 3.5 years and to finish 5th, Awesome. Well done on the result and best of luck with your future in this sport

Finally Ryan Fisher, backing up from World 70.3 and mixing it up in the WTS Finale. Performed well to come away with a  27th Place Elite Male 

Well done to all that raced. Full results below
World Triathlon Championships – 12-13.09.18 – Gold Coast
Sprint Distance – 750/20/5
Matthew Wolstencroft – 2nd Place 45-49 years Male
Chloe Turner – 4th Place 25-29 Years Female
Jordan Gover – 6th Place 45-49 years Male
Michael Hooper – 7th Place 20-24 Years Male
Gary Turner – 13th Place 70-74 Years Male
Maddison Dutton – 14th Place 20-24 Years Female
Maureen Cummings – 14th Place 55-59 Years Female
Tania Gover – 15th Place 40-44 Years Female
Emma Dann – 35th Place 16-19 Years Female

Olympic Distance – 1.5/40/10
Kate Schultz – 2nd Place 35-39 years Female
Matthew Wolstencroft – 6th Place 45-49 years Male
Lucy Bowden – 8th Place 25-29 Years Female
Anastasia Heikkila – 10th Place 18-19 Years Female
Brett Stalley – 12th Place 55-59 Years Male
Michael Woodcock – 38th Place 45-49 Years Male
​Charlotte Durand – 39th Place 25-29 Years Female
Pauline Ashley – 54th Place 45-49 years Female
Sandii Rixon – 58th Place 30-34 Years Female

ITU Junior - 750/20/5 - Draft Legal
Romy Wolstencroft – 5th Place Junior Female

WTS – 1.5/40/10 – Draft Legal
Ryan Fisher – 27th Place Elite Male

Just a small contingent that raced on the weekend at the 70.3 World Championships at Port Elizabeth Bay in South Africa over the 1.9km Swim, 90km Cycle and 21.1km Run.

With a beach swim that had a few waves, a cycle course that had some challenging hills and headwinds and a flat run course that produced some amazing times. SCTA had 2 athletes racing. With the females racing on the Saturday and Men on the Sunday.

Marion Tuin led the charge in the 30-34 years female. After her recent bronze medal at the World Long Course she made the trip to Australia for the final prep leading into her major race in south Africa. She had a solid swim and a great ride to hit the run course in 3rd place and in touch with the leaders. Unfortunately her run legs didn't come to the party and she battled on to record a 10th place in her category and 20th Female Age Group overall. Still not a bad performance with times and placing.

That's part of racing. Sometimes it goes to plan and other times it doesn't. It gives us a chance to reflect and better prepare for the next race.

SCTA Club Member Ryan Fisher toed the line with a Stellar Pro Men's field. Weather wasn't kind to the Men with wet roads and showers. Ryan lead out of the water with the front group of 8. Onto the bike he rode with the front pack for the first half of the ride and slipped away to exit the bike just out of the top 10. Fishman ran strongly to average under 4min /km for the half marathon to finish in 22nd place. Ryan will be a starter at the World Triathlon Champs on the Gold Coast on 16th September.

Well done to all that raced. Full results below 
World 70.3 Championships - South Africa - 1-2.09.18 - 1.9/90/21.1 
Marion Tuin - 10th Place 30-34 Years Female
Ryan Fisher - 22nd Place Professional Male