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It was mid-2017, I nearly walked away from Coaching. I wasn’t enjoying the day to day grind of what you do a s a Coach. It was just getting too hard after 15 years of Coaching. I was in a bit of a hole and not happy. It just seemed whatever I did, it was just hard. There didn’t seem a light at the end of the tunnel. The death of Lex Prowd, 8 months later of Garth Prowd and then the sudden passing of Dean Mercer rocked me. Then Great Mate Delly Carr had a stroke and it just seemed all the people around me that were close were dying or things happening to them. Then you start thinking who’s next or me. I’m fortunate to have some great mates that I could chat to and we all looked out for each other. Being in contact and seeing how well Delly was going was a bit of a catalyst knowing how hard he was working to get back behind the lens doing what he loved, was a bit of a kick up the arse I needed. Things started to get a bit easier. The start of the season was on, SCTA Athletes were going well, and it was a conversation at Noosa Triathlon with Delly and Lisa Pringle that got me back on track. Don’t get me wrong, it still wasn’t easy sailing, but I was getting that love back of what I was doing, and needed for the early starts, long days and dealing with the roller coaster of Athletes on a daily basis. So here we are at the start of the year, and its going to be a massive one. I look forward to the challenge of Challenging myself as a Coach, Person, Mentor and challenging the athletes to achieve the goals that are setting out to achieve Why I choose to Coach I believe Coaching found me! It just seemed to happen and present itself at the time it did. I was in a job I wasn’t enjoying and spending a fair bit of time at Spin City Cycles with the boys I grew up riding with. Liam (owner) told me to get the paper as there was a coaching job in there. I applied, didn’t get it, but was approached by a father (President of Tri Club) to see if I was interested in coaching her daughter. 1st September 2002. The rest is history Why do I Coach Love seeing athletes achieve the best they can do. Whether that means winning, finishing top 10, top 100 or just achieving a PB. Or purely just seeing the smiles on the faces. It can be a very rewarding job, but it can also be frustrating at times. During my life I have been exposed to numerous Coaches as an Athlete and a lot more in the Coaching circles. I have been fortunate enough to learn so much during the past 35 years of my life in this circle. I am forever learning new ways of coaching and how to implement this amongst a generation of different people to the ones I grew up. The way we did things opposed to what they do today is totally different. So, the need to try and adapt to this generation is totally different. During my later years of training I found myself taking a lot of the junior athletes that were training with me under my wing and nurturing them and encouraging them to achieve big and better things. After I made the Australian Junior Team in 1995, I had to move away from the Sunshine Coast to pursue the sport further. There were no specified Triathlon Coaches (I had been working with my PE Teacher from School, Mark Holstein, who got me into triathlon along with My Cycle Coach, Phil Seghers, who oversaw my Program along with my Swim Coach Brian Stehr) here on the Sunshine Coast. I vowed from that day, I would like to be a part of something to further the sport here on the Coast. I believe I have done that and more with the SCTA Junior Scholarship that I have in place for the past 6 years. SCTA Results People see the end results. They don’t see the hard work that goes into producing athletes and the timeframe that is needed for this to happen, especially amongst juniors. So many Athletes want results now, but realistic, you need a good 2-3 years of developing and nurturing to get them to a point where you can launch them into the training. It goes in cycles, every 3-4 years I have had to regroup and build the next batch thru and this has been done for the past 15.5 years. In saying this I am coming up to my 15th Queensland Schools Triathlon Championships. During this time, we have had 1 athlete make that team each year with a total of 47 being selected. To keep rebuilding, and producing, shows that I am on the right path. The coaches that I have seen come in hard and fast, the flavour of the month / year, only to see struggle after a few years. After 15 years I am still here rebuilding and developing. Coaching isn’t easy. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t see. I have days that are low where it is hard, tiring, stressful, frustrating, eventful. Then there are days that are high where it is just rewarding, happy, successful. The lows outweigh the highs on a regular basis, but you live for those highs. Talent versus Hard Work Good question. In the past 15 years of coaching, I have seen some talented athletes come and go. Some could have done anything with whatever sport they choose, but they lacked that hard work and dedication. Which is frustrating from a coach’s point of view. As an Athlete I was a hard worker. I didn’t have the talent like some of the athletes that I raced, but they knew they were in for a hard race when I was on the line. I didn’t leave anything out there on the race field. So, I would like a Talented hard worker, but we know that doesn’t happen all that often. Hard Worker and one that listens and is willing to learn and understand If you apply yourself in training, you will get results in the races. Pure and simple. Its not rocket science. So many make it harder than it needs to be. What Frustrates you in Coaching Athletes that aren’t willing to take on active criticism and advice. As a Coach my aim is to improve the athlete. Whether that is technique based, speed, mental, nutritional, recovery or just overall balance of sport. Over the years I have stuffed up so many times as an athlete and now as a Coach. Most has been learnt from that experience and trying to pass on that to athletes so that they don’t make the same mistakes. At times they need to make those mistakes to learn from that experience as well. When my Coaches offered me advice, I wanted to improve so I took on that advice. I improved because I listened, implemented and asked questions. I had too much respect for what they were trying to achieve and respect for myself as I wanted to improve!!! I find these days that too many make excuses for why they can’t do it. There is a need to be accountable and that needs to come from the athlete. Holding themselves to a higher standard to achieve the goals that they are wanting to achieve. Work Hard = Results Racing and Coaching I believe for myself to be the best Coach I can be, I can’t race!! I know I am self-centred and about myself when racing. Hence why you won’t see me race. If I do it will be a Byron Bay Tri when its at the end of the season for giggles with the squad. I learnt this the hard way and didn’t take on the advice of a Coach that said it to me at the time. It took me 2 years but when I did figure it out, I went back and apologised for not taking on his advice. To this day we are great mates and one of the Coaches in a circle that I can trust and ask for advice. Also with the load or coaching I do, I just don’t have the energy, physically and mentally, to do both so I am a paid Coach that Coaches for a living. That’s my take on it Do You Miss the Training and Racing? I miss the racing. The fact that you have done everything possible to get on that start line in the best shape of your life and tearing that course apart. I miss that feeling of being fit. I don’t miss the hard work that goes in to getting you that fit. I do still get out on the bike, a run here and there and the odd swim from time to time. I’d rather surf when I can. Best Advice From my PE Teacher Mark Holstein Learn to lose. You don’t have to like it, but learn from it to make you a better person. From Gary Ireland (Australian Surf Coach) Enjoy the Journey My Favourite Quote Success is Simple…. You just have to decide what to give up to achieve it. Coaching Results - SCTA
9 World Champions / 21 World Championship Medallist (2nd + 3rd Places) 23 Australian Champions / 51 Australian Championship Medallist (2nd + 3rd Places) 2018 Commonwealth Games Triathlon – Rachel James / Coach of PNG Team 2017 National Schools Triathlon Championships – 2nd Senior Female / 3rd Junior Female 2017 Australian Junior Series – 2nd Place overall ITU Youth B 2017 Australian Cross Triathlon Champion - Professional Male 2017 World Triathlon Championships – 4 Members 2016 + 2017 ITU Pacific Islands Championships – Female Professional Winner 2016 and 2017 World ITU Cross Triathlon - Elite Team Representative 2015 World Duathlon Champs - ITU Junior 4th Place 2015 Pacific Games Championships – 4th Place Professional Female 2014 Triathlon Australia Age Group Coach of the Year finalist 2013 Triathlon Australia Age Group Coach of the Year finalist 2013 Triathlon World Championships, London - 8 members 2012 Triathlon World Championships, Auckland - 11 members 2011 Western Australian Ironman Female Champion - Professional 2010 Triathlon World Championships, Budapest - 3 members & 1 x World Champion 2010 Australian Female Long Course and Ironman Champion - Professional 2009 Sunshine Coast Sports Star of the Year, Coach of the Year 2009 Triathlon World Championships, Gold Coast - 34 members & 2 x World Champions 2009 Long Course World Championships, Perth - 5 members & 3 x World Champions 2008-09 Triathlon Queensland Junior Club/ Coach of the Year 2009 Long Course World Championships, Elite Male named in Team 2006 Finalist for Sunshine Coast Sports Star of the Year, Coach of the Year 2002 - current - 47 athletes make QLD Schools Triathlon Team (have had at least 1 athlete named every year) Coaching Roles Advisor to PNG Triathlon Federation and Coach of their # 1 Female athlete Rachel James for past 3 years Coaching Course Facilitator - Triathlon Queensland 2014 - Current Head Coach - Team ITU Camp Youth Olympics, Sydney 2013 Head Coach - ATU U/23 and Junior Development Camp, Maputo, Mozambique 2011 National Talent Identification and Development "Hot Spot" Regional Coach, Sunshine Coast 2008-2010 Head Swim Coach - ITU U/23 and Junior Development Camp, Gold Coast 2009 Assistant Coach - Young Guns Tour of Japan 2009 Triathlon Australia National Junior Camp, 2008 & 2009 Triathlon Queensland JETS Coach, 2007 & 2008 Sporting Achievements – Toby Coote Athlete International 1995 World Triathlon Championships – 25th Place ITU Junior 1996 Noosa ITU World Cup – 19th Place 1996 Legends of the Surf International Aquathon Championships – 4th Place Professional 1997 Sabah International Triathlon (Borneo) – 3rd Place Professional Male 1997 ITU Oceania and Australian Championships Mooloolaba – 17th Place Professional 1998 Sabah International Triathlon (Borneo) – 8th Place Professional Male 1998 Noumea International Triathlon – 9th Place Professional Male National Agnes Waters Triathlon · Race Winner 2004 - Professional · Race Winner 2003 - Professional 2003/2004 Winter Duathlon Series · Series Winner - Professional · Race # 1 – 3rd Place Professional · Race # 2 – 1st Place Professional 2003 Yeppoon Half Ironman – 4th Place Professional 2002/2003 Qld Triathlon Series - USM · Race # 6 – 3rd Place Professional 2002/2003 Winter Duathlon Series · Series Winner – Professional · Race # 1 – 3rd Place Professional · Race # 2 – Race Winner Professional · Race # 3 – 7th Professional 2001 Queensland Triathlon Series – 3rd Place Professional 2000 Pelican Waters Triathlon Race Winner - Professional 2000 Australian Half Marathon Championships – 39th Place 2000 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships – 5th Place Restricted Surf Race 2000 Bribie Island Triathlon Series Race # 3 – 5th Place Professional 1999/2000 Winter Duathlon Series · Series Winner - Professional · Race # 2 – 1st Place Professional · Race # 3 – 3rd Place Professional · Race # 4 – 3rd Place Professional 1998/1999 Triathlon Queensland Championship Series · Triathlon Championships – 1st Place Professional 1998/1999 New Challenge Triathlon Series · Race # 1 – 2nd Place Professional 1998/1999 Summer Triathlon Series · Race # 5 – Race Winner Professional · Race # 4 – 5th Place Professional 1998/1999 Winter Duathlon Series · Race # 3 – 3rd Place Professional 1998 Qld Wineries Triathlon Race Winner – Professional 1998 Hervey Bay Triathlon Race Winner - Professional 1998 Noosa Triathlon – 9th Place Professional 1998 Robbie Thomasson Memorial Triathlon Race Winner – Professional 1998 Bribie Island Triathlon Series Race # 3 – 3rd Place Professional 1997/1998 Triathlon Queensland Championship Series · Series Winner - Professional · Triathlon Championships – 1st Place Professional · Duathlon Championships – 2nd Place Professional · Short Course Championships – 3rd Place Professional 1997/1998 New Challenge Triathlon Series · Series Winner - Professional · Race # 6 – 2nd Place Professional · Race # 1 – 3rd Place Professional · Race # 5 - 3rd Place Professional · Race # 4 – 4th Place Professional 1997/1998 Powerade Triathlon Series · 2nd Place Series - Professional · Race # 6 – 2nd Place Professional · Race # 3 – 3rd Place Professional · Race # 4 - 3rd Place Professional · Race # 7 + # 5 – 8th Place Professional 1997 Robbie Thomasson Memorial Triathlon – 2nd Place Professional 1997 Gold Coast triathlon – 2nd Place Professional 1997 Hervey Bay Triathlon – 3rd Place Professional 1996/1997 Triathlon Queensland Championship Series · Series Winner – Professional · Duathlon Championships Race Winner - Professional · Long Course Championships – 2nd Place Professional · Aquathon Championships – 3rd Place Professional 1996/97 Summer Triathlon Series · Series Winner – Professional · Race # 1 Race Winner – Professional · Race # 6 – 2nd Professional 1996 Gold Coast triathlon – 2nd Place Professional 1996 Great Sandy Region Triathlon – 4th Place Professional 1996 Byron Bay Triathlon – 4th Place Professional 1996 Triathlon Australia National Series Race # 1 – 11th Place Professional 1995/1996 Triathlon Queensland Championship Series · Short Course Championships – 3rd Place Professional · Aquathon Championships – 5th Place Professional · Triathlon Championships – 8th Place Professional 1995 Triathlon Australia National Series · Race # 1 Sydney - Australian Sprint Championships – 10th Place ITU Junior · Race # 2 Canberra – 5th Place ITU Junior · Race # 4 Geelong – Australian Triathlon Championships – 5th Place ITU Junior · Race # 5 Devonport – 1st Place ITU Junior · Race # 6 Mooloolaba – 7th Place ITU Junior · Overall Series – 3rd Place ITU Junior 1995/96 Powerade Triathlon Series · Race # 6 – 2nd Place Professional · Race # 3 – 9th Place Professional · Race # 5 – 12th Place Professional 1995 / 1996 Bribie Island Triathlon Series · Race # 4 Race Winner – Professional 1995 Pelican Waters Triathlon Race Winner - Professional 1995 Great Sandy Region Triathlon Race Winner – Professional 1995 Byron Bay Triathlon – 4th Place Professional 1995 Sydney ITU World Cup Age Group Race (doubled as the Australian ITU Junior Race Off 4 athletes going for 3 spots) – Race Winner – selected into Australia ITU Junior Team for 1995 World Champs 1994 / 1995 Bribie Island Triathlon Series · Race # 1 – 2nd Place Professional · Race # 3 – 3rd Place Professional 1994 Bundaberg Triathlon – 2nd Place Professional 1994 Twin Waters Biathlon Series · Race # 1 – 3rd Place Professional · Race # 3 – 2nd Place Professional · Race # 4 – 4th Place Professional · Race # 6 – 3rd Place Professional 1994 National Junior Series Race # 1 – 6th Place ITU Junior 1994 Queensland Aquathon Championships – 3rd Place Junior 1994 Isle of Palm Triathlon – 3rd Place Junior 1994 Pelican Waters Triathlon – 6th Place Professional 1993 Mooloolaba Aquathon Race Winner – Professional 1993 Queensland Aquathon Championships – 1st Junior Male 1993 Pomona King of Mountain Duathlon – 1st Junior Male 1993 Kawana Time Biathlon – 1st Junior Male 1993 BP Junior Series Triathlon – 3rd Place Junior 1993 Pelican Waters Triathlon – 3rd Place Junior 1993 Mooloolaba Triathlon – 4th Place Junior 1993 Pelican Waters Triathlon – 4th Place Junior 1993 Queensland Schools Triathlon Championships – 4th Place (Qualified for Qld Team) 1993 National Schools Triathlon Championships – 16th Place Senior Male 1992 Nike Junior Series Triathlon – 2nd Place U/19 1992 Queensland Schools Triathlon Championships – 7th Place Senior
It’s been an amazing 6 months so far for the SCTA squad results wise. With a huge year ahead especially with 2018 World Championships here on home soil on the Gold Coast, there will be plenty of athletes trying to qualify for that race. I have already seen an influx of athletes approaching me with a goal of trying to qualify. Some of these are old members of SCTA that have had a break from Triathlon but looking at getting back into it.
Biggest news to come out so far is that Rachel James (PNG) has qualified for the Commonwealth Games for Triathlon and I have been appointed Head Coach of the PNG Team for the Commonwealth Games. A lot of hard work to get to that point and it was touch and go. PNG have / will select only 41 athletes for the Games so that is a massive achievement for Rachel. A lot of sacrifices have gone in to getting that spot. She took out the Pacific Island Championships for the 2nd year in a row. Very happy with the way the athletes are progressing and looking forward to an amazing next 6 months of results. The main focus is the Juniors but we do have some talented adults that are on the verge of turning Pro. Some of the members that have signed up to SCTA as their club of choice with Triathlon Australia and Queensland include 2016 Olympian Ryan Fisher and Professional athletes Nicholas Hull, Carrie Lester and Kirra Seidel. We currently have 84 members signed up. The Junior Scholarship Holders Jake Hynes and Romy Wolstencroft are training hard and by the recent results, the season is looking very promising for them both. Their first major race was the Super Sprint Race Weekend on 14th-17th December which was Race # 1 of the Australian Junior Series. We are booked for Race # 2 Adelaide 3rd / 4th Feb, Race # 3 Perth 3rd / 4th March and the Oceania Champs 24th/25th March (Automatic Qualifier for World Champs ITU Junior) Both have finished grade 12 and taking a gap year where the plan is to get a U/23 / Junior Pro License and race some ITU races in the off season in Asian. Romy has been in great form and recorded some great results. See her race report from Race # 1 of National Junior Series at Runaway Bay Other results include Winner - Rainbow Beach Double Tri Winner – QTS # 1 Raby Bay Winner - QTS # 2 Robina Tri – Sprint Winner – Maleny Mountain View 10km Run Winner – Kingscliff Triathlon – Sprint 6th Place Point score / Winner “A” Final – Australian Junior Series Race # 1 Jake competed has been steadily improving with each race and since Grade 12 has finished have seen him step up in training. Race report from Race # 1 of National Junior Series from last weekend. Race Report Other results include 3rd Open Male - Rainbow Beach Double Tri Race Winner – Queensland Aquathlon Championships – State Champion 16-19 Years 4th Open Male – QTS # 3 Kawana Tri Winner – QTS # 4 Raby Bay Triathlon – Super Sprint 10th Place Point score / 10th Place “A” Final – Australian Junior Series Race # 1 We had 4 juniors selected into the Triathlon Queensland Development Squad with Jake, Romy, Peyton Craig and Jazzy Shults. 3 Junior athletes were selected into the Queensland Athletics Team for the Australian Athletics National Cross-Country Champs with Emma Dann, Meg Roberts and Ryan Marsh. Peyton Craig was selected in the Queensland Athletics Team where he won the National 1500m and 3rd in the 800m World Championships Results Long Course – 1 x 3rd Place / 1 x 5th Place Aquabike – 1 x 3rd Place Aquathlon – 2 x 4th Places Sprint – 1 x 7th Place Olympic Distance – 1 x 50th Place 70.3 – 1 x 115th Place Race Wins (OPEN or PRO) – Overall 15 x 1st Place / 11 x 2nd Places / 16 x 3rd Places Age Group Category Wins and Places 63 x 1st Places / 32 x 2nd Places / 33 x 3rd Places Queensland Aquathlon Championships 5 x State Champions / 2 x 2nd / 1 x 3rd – From 12 athletes Western Sydney 70.3 – Asia / Pacific Championships 1 x Asia / Pacific Champion (Gained his Pro License) / 1 x 3rd / 1 x 6th / 1 x 7th Noosa Triathlon SCTA Took out Division V – Club Champion Australian Junior Series Race # 1 – Super Sprint Race Weekend Romy Wolstencroft - Junior Female – 40 competitors Race # 6 – 1st Place “A” Final / 6th Place on Point score Jake Hynes – Junior Male – 47 Competitors Race # 6 – 10th Place “A” Final / 10th Place on Point score Jazzy Shults - Youth “B” Female Final – 29 Competitors Race # 5 – 3rd Place “A” Final / 3rd Place on Point score Peyton Craig - Youth “B” Male – 32 Competitors Race # 5 – 7th Place “A” Final / 7th Place on Point score Scott Marsh - Youth B Male – 32 Competitors Race # 5 – 13th Place “B” Final / 31st Place on Point score Kayleigh Foster - Youth A Female – 48 Competitors Race # 5 – 10th Place “B” Final / 31st Place on Point score Macey Roberts - Youth “A” Female – 48 Competitors Race # 5 – 1st Place “C” Final / 33rd Place on Point score Ryan Marsh - Youth “A” Male – 48 competitors Race # 5 – 9th Place “B” Final / 30th Place on Point score Seth James (PNG) - Youth A Male – 48 Competitors Race # 5 – 13th Place “C” Final / 46th Place on Point score Full race report can be found here So, as you can see, a very hectic first 6 month and with commonwealth games in April a lot of events have been brought forward to accommodate this. This makes for the months of February and March very busy indeed. The racing schedule is as follows 14th January - QTS Race # 5 Robina (Australian OD Selection Race) 3rd – 4th February - Triathlon Australia Junior / Youth Race # 2 - Glenelg / Hell of the West 11th February - QTS Race # 6 Caloundra Tri 15th – 17th February - Queensland Schools Triathlon Champs - Hervey Bay (will the tradition continue of at least 1 SCTA athlete making the Qld Team for the 16th year straight?) 25th February - Luke Harrop Memorial Gold Cost Triathlon Australian Sprint Champs and Selection Race 3rd – 4th March – Triathlon Australia Junior / Youth Race # 3 - Perth - Australian Championships / QTS Race # 7 Raby Bay 9th – 11th March - Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival Australian OD Championships and Selection Race / ITU World Cup 25th March - ITU Oceania Championships Junior Selection Race World Champs NZ 2nd – 7th April - Commonwealth Games Triathlon - Rachel James PNG Massive thanks for the support from the athletes, their families and the Sponsors associated with SCTA Protector Aluminium Catalina Resort Vorgee Unique Health Foods | CLIF Bars Australia Kawana Aquatic Centre Felt Bicycles Australia | Apollo Bicycles Metsure Insurance Brokers Mizuno Running Australia Cannibal Australia Tara Leanne Nutrition Rydges Hotels Xterra Wetsuits Australia Allez Sport Mooloolaba The Event Crew Ironman Oceania Intune Sports and Health |
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