The last weekend of racing for Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Hybrid Concepts Australia has passed and we can look forward to some consistent training with a little break over Christmas and New Year period. It has been a massive first half of the season for the SCTA crew with some amazing results and more importantly improvements from all.

On Saturday we had SCTA / HCAUS Junior scholarship recipient Jake Hynes head to Canberra for Race # 1 of the Australian ITU Junior Series racing against the best juniors from Australia and NZ. The plan was to embrace the experience at racing at this level being the first time he had lined up with the calibre of athletes that were on hand. Jake didn't swim as well as expected and was in the 3rd chase pack on the bike. He did a lot of the work and they caught the 2nd chase pack to exit the bike with them. The legs were a little heavy and was fighting stomach cramps but finished the run strongly to finish 22nd out of 56 starters. Well done mate

On the same day we saw 3 SCTA ladies line up in Taupo 70.3. The conditions were good for the girls for NZ standards. The water was a little fresh but in the end ideal conditions. Malin Olsson continued her great form with a category win in 35-39 (20th female overall) and also securing a World 70.3 qualifier berth for Sunshine Coast later next year. Rachel Cullen had a strong performance with a 14th place in 30-34 years with Rachael James 19th in the same category in her first ever 70.3 and also a first for her native country PNG being the first PNG athlete to finish a 70.3. Well done girls awesome effort

On Sunday we saw Bonnie Atherton and Will Carman line up at Ballarat 70.3. Conditions were tough with a strong breeze on the bike and very cool conditions at swim start 5 degrees. Bonnie had a blinder of a race to take out the 18-24 years category and gain that World 70.3 spot for Sunshine Coast. Will Carman had a tough day in the office to finish 26th in 18-24 years. Well done Bon and Will.

Australian Junior ITU Series Race # 1 - Canberra 12.11.15 750/20/5
Jake Hynes - 22nd ITU Junior Male

Taupo 70.3 12.11.15 1.9/90/21.1
Malin Olsson - 1st 35-39 Years Female - World 70.3 Qualifier
Rachel Cullen - 14th 30-34 Years Female
Rachael James - 19th 30-34 Years Female

Ballarat 70.3 13.11.15 1.9/90/21.1
Bonnie Atherton - 1st 18-24 Years Female - World 70.3 Qualifier
Will Carman - 26th 18-24 Years Male

Next weekend we see the SCTA Christmas Party. Enjoy

Sunshine Coast Triathlon academy / Hybrid Concepts Australia athletes were in action at Ironman Asia Pacific Western Australian Ironman at Bussleton, Queensland Triathlon Series Race # 4 at Raby Bay and Caloundra Tri Club Just Tri It at Caloundra.

Firstly it was a massive achievement for SCTA / HCAUS Junior Scholarship recipient Savannah Wayner for being selected as Junior athlete of the month for November for the Annual Sports Awards night presented by the Sunshine Coast Sports Federation for her achievement of being selected in the Australian ITU Junior team for World Duathlon Championships where she finished 4th. Congratulations Savannah.  

In Busselton for the WA Ironman, SCTA had 4 athletes competing. Kate Gazzard, Dean Saunders, Jason Brown (SCTA Major Sponsor HCAUS) and Grant Cunning. The weather forecast was ideal for racing with wind, rain, choppy swim and kangaroo's but all fought their way to the finish line. Each one all ahd their own story to get to the finish line but they all did the best they could to get to the finish line. Well done.

While in Raby Bay for QTS # 4 we saw some great performances from the SCTA / HCAUS Crew. Taking out age Category wins we had Jake Hynes (16-19), Taj Jones (14-15) and Finn Barlow (Kool Kids 7-9) with Jemma Hynes (kool kids 7-9) and Mel Charlton (30-34) taking 2nd place. It is great to see the continuing improvement of all the athletes in the races but a special mention to Paige Hynes who has improved immensely over the past couple of races. Well done team keep up the great work.

At Caloundra for the Just Tri It, Tahlea Corcoran lines up in the short the course not only to take out her category but fastest female on the day and 2nd overall amongst the males. Well done Tahlea.

Western Austarlian Ironman - 06.12.15 3.8/180/42.2
Kate Gazzard - 9th 35-39 Years Female - 11:05:56
Dean Saunders - 71st 35-39 Years Male - 11:28:24
Jason Brown - 93rd 40-44 Years Male - 11:44:03
Grant Cunning - 101st 25-29 Years Male - 12:33:35

QTS # 4 Raby Bay Triathlon - 06.12.15 750/20/5
Taj Jones - 1st 14-15 Years Male
Jake Hynes - 1st 16-19 Years Male
Melissa Charlton - 2nd 30-34 Years Female
Lachlan Sinclair - 6th 14-15 Years Male
Paris Shield - 8th 14-15 Years Female

Enticer
Scott Marsh - 22nd U/14 Male

Kool Kids - 100/2/500
Finn Barlow - 1st 7-9 Years Female
Jemma Hynes - 2nd 7-9 Years Female
Paige Hynes - 10th 7-9 Years Female
Jake Hammond - 16th 7-9 Years Male
Pipi Barlow - 17th 7-9 Years Female
Scott Marsh - 21st 10-11 Years Male

Caloundra Tri Club Just Tri It - 06.12.15 300/10/3
Tahlea Corcoran - 1st 12-15 Years Female - Race Winner

Well done to all that race and best of luck to all racing Taupo 70.3, Ballarat 70.3 and Australian Junior Series Race # 1 in Canberra

Another massive weekend for Sunshine Coast Tri Academy / Hybrid Concepts Australia Athletes racing at Victoria Cross Triathlon Championships in Bendigo, Triathlon Pink Sunshine Coast and Race # 2 of the Bribie Island Tri Series.

Off to Victoria for the Victorian Cross Triathlon Champs which also doubled as a selection race for the World Cross Triathlon Champs to be held  at Lake Crackenback in 2016. Brodie Gardner went down to Bendigo to line up in the Professional Category. Since returning from Maui for the World Xterra Champs, the training has been a little interrupted so it was go down and see what he could do. With World Class athlete Ben Allen on the start line it was always going to be a tough race. Brodie had another solid day out matching Ben on the bike and Run. Just got away in the swim. Brodie came away with 2nd place and some valuable points towards selection into the World Champs and also the Tre-X Series.

Triathlon Pink Sunshine Coast was the next stop at Lake Kawana for SCTA Athletes. With most families being affected by Cancer in some way or another it was a great day to represent and also help raise valuable funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

On the racing front all SCTA athletes do an amazing job with Liam Wallace, Jemma Hynes, Lara Dreyzin-Howell, Chloe Aurisch all taking out category wins. Emma Dreyzin-Howell was 2nd with Wendy Lee a 3rd. Maddison Page and Emily Hynes just missed the podium in 4th. As I said the day is about conquering Cancer and it was great to see Louise Hynes out their competing after her battle with cancer a few years ago. It was great to see the Pinkies out there running around. Well done to all that competed.

Not only were there athletes out their racing but for the past 6 years SCTA has also helped out with volunteering at this great event and putting something back into the community. A massive thanks to all helped out volunteering. The Event Crew were very happy with the effort that you all put in and also contributed to the running of a great race. From my point of view I am very proud of the hard work you put in on that morning.

And Finally to Bribie Island Tri Series Race # 2 where the SCTA recorded some amazing results as well with BJ Brown, Michael Hooper, Melissa Charlton and Maddison Dutton all taking out category wins. Benn Seiler was 2nd with Tahlea Corcoran in 3rd place. Just missing the podium we had Romy Wolstencoft and Jessica Lee in4th with Ryan Marsh in 5th. It was great to See SCTA Major Sponsor from Hybrid Concepts Australia, Jason Brown, fine tuning before the big dance this weekend at the WA Ironman.

Tre-X Victoria Cross Triathlon Championships - Bendigo 28.11.15 1.5km Swim / 30km Mt Bike / 10km trail Run
Brodie Gardner - 2nd Professional Male

Triathlon Pink Sunshine Coast - Lake Kawana 29.11.15
Kids 7-9 Years - 50/2/500
Liam Wallace - 1st Male
Jemma Hynes 1st Female
Paige Hynes - 7th Female
Kids 10-13 Years - 100/4/1
Lara Dreyzin-Howell - 1st Female
Emma Dreyzin-Howell - 2nd Female
Maddison Page - 4th Female
Tri Pink Ultra - 600/16/6
Chloe Aurisch - 1st All Ages Female
Angie Windsor - 12th All Ages Female
Tri Pink Long - 300/8/3
Emily Hynes - 4th U/16
Nicole Gray - 5th All Ages Female
Louise Hynes - 81st All Ages Female
Tri Pink Medium - 200/6/2
Wendy Lee - 3rd All Ages Female

Bribie Island Tri Series Race # 2 - Bribie Island 29.11.15
Long Course - 1/30/8
BJ Brown - 1st 16-17 Years Male
Michael Hooper - 1st 20-24 Years Male - 3rd Overall
Melissa Charlton - 1st 30-34 Years Female
Romy Wolstencroft - 4th OPEN Female
Jessica Lee - 4th 30-34 Years Female
Jason Brown - 10th 40-44 Years Male
Short Course - 300/10/3
Maddison Dutton - 1st 20-24 Years - 1st Female Overall
Tahlea Corcoran - 3rd 12-15 Years Female
Ryan Marsh - 5th 12-15 Years Male
Kids Tri
Benn Seiler - 2nd Male

Well done to all that competed and good luck to Jason Brown, Kate Gazzard, Grant Cunning and Dean Saunders lining up in Busselton this weekend for WA Ironman.