The week began with National Schools Triathlon Champs in Hervey Bay, on Saturday we had Xterra Asia Pacific Cross Triathlon Champs and ITU Oceania Sprint Triathlon Champs for the Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Hybrid Concepts Australia Athletes.

Firstly, National Schools Tri Champs where we had SCTA / HCAUS Junior Scholarship recipient Jake Hynes (8th place Senior Male), the current Qld Schools Champ Romy Wolstencroft (6th Place Senior Female) and Kaya Shults (8th Place Intermediate Female). Hervey Bay put on perfect weather for racing for all the athletes that travelled to the National Champs.

First to hit the water were the Senior Males with Jake Hynes having a cracker of a swim to be right in the mix up there in the draft legal format. Last year the bike leg was Jake’s downfall this year was the same but for totally different reasons. He was too aggressive on the bike and found himself doing too much work which therefore nullified his weapon which has been the run off the bike. The first lap off the bike he was trying to find his run legs which came in the second lap and ran himself into 8th place. Which was an improvement on his result from last year. It has been another massive learning year for Jake which will put him in good stead for next season. The plan from the start has always been 2 years since he started his triathlon career. That comes next season. Look out and watch this space…..

Next was the Senior Females with Romy Wolstencroft not having the greatest of swims to put her behind from the start. She was in chase mode from the start of the bike and got a group of girls to work with, but with the front 3 girls working very well together it was always going to be a tough ask coming from the 3rd pack. There were a lot of positives to come out of the race with Romy running 3rd fastest time not far off the eventual winner's run time. With Romy only being on the bike for short period and in her second only draft legal race she learnt some valuable lessons today that will make her a better athlete. Cornering and gear selection is a major area to work on over the off season as to her swim which will come back, especially having 6 weeks out with a broken wrist. 20 sec faster swim would have seen her in the 2nd pack where 2nd place came from. But that is draft legal racing and the need to be in contact on the bike. Watch out next year for this one.

Kaya Shults in the Intermediate Females was next to hit the line. Kaya dominated the swim leg to set herself up with a lead. Going into the race the pre-race chat was to listen to the instructions from Head Coach Toby Coote as to ascertain where the chase group were and if we could get a few up the road to join her and have a lead group away. She was told to sit up as two other Queenslanders were the next two on the road and a good chance for them to join forces and get away from the other athletes. It was going to plan and at the end of the 2nd lap they had a 30 sec lead but unfortunately one of them didn’t want to work and over the next 4km they were caught by the 2nd pack with a total of 13 in the front pack with one lap to go. It was always go to be tough to run with the top girls but Kaya put in a great run to finish 8th. A better result from last year’s race and at the bottom of the age group. The same thing as Romy if the lead pack stayed away the result would have been a better one but again hat is racing and the dynamics of draft legal racing.

So in a nutshell they did the best they could on the day and we got a 6th and 2 x 8th places. When developing athletes there are certain things that will go right and wrong, but it’s the learning experience from each of the races they gain that they can use in for future races that is invaluable. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are athletes. A very happy Coach!

Next was the ITU Oceania Sprint Championships where we saw Rachel James (PNG) line up in a very small but selective competitive field with two very strong swimmers. The aim with Rachel was to nullify the loss in the swim. Being at the Penrith Regatta Centre in fresh water the buoyancy is very limited and for a developing swimmer it wasn’t going to be ideal. Rachel exited the water 2min 30 sec behind (a little quicker than Mooloolaba World Cup) which made it a tough day with 3 away in the front pack riding strong. She nearly got to the end of the cycle leg this time, but under ITU Rule with First runner last cyclist scenario, Rachel was unfortunately lapped out. So there are improvements coming with a developing athlete and nation with the view of two years’ time with the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. But as with all draft legal races 30 sec quicker swim today would have seen Rachel with two athletes to ride with. Small steps but it is coming and we have time before the Commonwealth Games. Watch this space

And finally we had Brodie Gardner line up in the Xterra Asia Pacific Cross Triathlon Champs at Callala Beach NSW. Going into the event Brodie was currently 2nd on the Asia Pacific Tour Point score with three podium finishes going into the event. As expected there was a red hot field chasing the title. Brodie had a solid swim coming out in 5th/6th place and the chase was on the bike. The week before at Tre-X he had the fastest bike leg but couldn’t replicate it this time. It took him awhile to get going and found it hard to stay in contact with the lead guys. The great thing to see was Brodie closed it out on the run and took a few scalps. It’s been a big block of racing and traveling and it took its toll today. No excuses that is racing. One race to go and then the season is finished and time to break and then prepare for the ITU World Cross Triathlon Champs on the course he raced today.

Xterra Asia Pacific Cross Triathlon Championships – 23/04/16 – 1.5/30/10
Brodie Gardner – 10th Place Professional Male

National School Triathlon Champs - Hervey Bay – 19-21/04/16
Romy Wolstencroft – 6th Place Senior Female
Jake Hynes – 8th Place Senior Male
Kaya Shults – 8th Place Intermediate Female

National schools Relay – Hervey Bay
Jake Hynes – 3rd All Age Relay
Kaya Shults – 4th Intermediate Mixed Relay
Romy wolstencroft – 5th Senior Mixed Relay

Another big weekend with athletes competing at Port Macquarie Ironman and 70.3 and Busselton 70.3. Good luck to all racing

Another successful weekend of results for Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Hybrid Concepts Australia Athletes that competed at Tre-X Cross Triathlon doubling as the Triathlon Queensland Championship.

Perfect conditions for off road racing greeted the athletes for a Saturday Race start. Heading into the race Brodie Gardner was leading the series in the Professional Male. Courtney Atkinson was a late entrant and was going to make the racing interesting. Brodie worked his way thru the bike leg posting the fastest bike split on the day to head into T2 in equal 3rd. Brodie had a solid run to record 4th place and cement himself on top of the series taking out the Tre-x series title.

Zsolt Dallos was out to have some fun and he did that with a 2nd place in 35-39. He finished off with the fastest run split in his category to take a silver medal in the Queensland Championships event.

SCTA Juniors, Ryan and Scott Marsh and Josh Nixon had some fun in the off road triathlon with Ryan just missing the podium in 4th place, while in the Dirt Kids Cross Finn Barlow made it a clean sweep of all the Triathlon Queensland Championships races this year taking out the win and another Queensland Title. Younger sister Pipi was all smiles when she finished as well. Well done to all that raced

Tre-X Triathlon Queensland Cross Triathlon Championships - 16/04/16 - 1500/30/10.5
Brodie Gardner - 4th Place Professional Male - 3rd Queensland Championships
Zsolt Dallos - 2nd Place 35-39 Years Male - 2nd Queensland Championships

Junior Cross Triathlon - 150/4/1
Ryan Marsh - 4th Place 10-12 Years Male
Joshua Nixon - 7th Place 10-12 Years Male
Scott Marsh - 11th Place 10-12 Years Male

Dirt Kids Cross Triathlon - 50/2/500
Finn Barlow - 1st Place U/10 Years Female - Queensland Champion
Pipi Barlow -

Tre-X Cross Triathlon Series
Brodie Gardner - Series Champion Professional Male

On Wednesday we will see SCTA Juniors Jake Hynes, Romy Wolstencroft and Kaya Shults in action at the National Schools Triathlon Championships in Hervey Bay. On Saturday, Rachel James in the Penrith Oceania Cup Triathlon and Brodie Gardner at Xterra Asia Pacific Championships at Callala Beach where he is currently 2nd in the Asia Pacific Tour Series. Good luck to all racing

For some the Gold Coast Triathlon Luke Harrop Memorial is just "another" for others, like myself, its a time to remember a great mate that was taken way to early. Luke Harrop never had the chance to realise his dream, the Olympics, but it reinforces each day to live it to your most as you never know when it may be taken away from you.

The Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Hybrid Concept Australia Athletes were out in force for the Gold Coast Triathlon Luke Harrop Memorial ​with 24 athletes with 9 podium finishers amongst the 2000 competitors. We had 5 athletes in the top 100 in the sprint distance and all 6 of our Enticer competitors were in the top 60 overall.

It was perfect conditions for racing with a light breeze and warm temperatures so an earlier wave start was an advantage. Some very fast and furious racing out there by all the SCTA athletes which saw Kirra Seidel (Open Female) take out 2nd place chasing down the overall winner but just running out of road to catch her. It was great to see Rachel James (11th) in the Open's as well and not far off some of Queensland top Junior Females. We are seeing her progress with each race and seeing that improvement that she needs to be competitive at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In the Men's, SCTA /HCAUS Junior Scholarship recipient Jake Hynes led the charge with a 13th place in a very competitive Open men's field. Not far out of the water behind the leaders and cycling against athletes on TT bikes while he is on road bike and no TT bars held his own to finish off with a strong run.

SCTA had a run of 2nd places today with a few just missing that winners dais, but still a great result for 2nd with Alex Barnes (16-19 Female), Michael Hooper (20-24 Male)
Maddison Dutton (20-24 Female) and Maureen Cummings (50-54 Female)​​. Just missing the podium in 4th place we had Melissa Charlton (30-34) and Belinda Seccombe (40-44) and in 5th place Kevin Hammond (35-39)

During the race weekend, in conjunction with Triathlon Australia and Ironman Asia Pacific they ran a Rising Stars Program with 40 athletes being selected into the program. SCTA had Elliot Gray, Macey Roberts, Ryan Marsh and Tahlea Corcoran selected into the program which saw them up close and personal with ITU WTS athletes that raced on the Saturday and eventually see all the rising stars participants compete in the Enticer Rising Stars Wave on Sunday. Elliot led the charge with 3rd place, with Macey 6th place, Tahlea 9th place and Ryan in 13th place.

Meanwhile in the Enticer (see report above about Rising Stars Program / Race) Meg Roberts (1st U/16) had a great race to take out the win, while Kayleigh Foster (2nd U14) had a great race to be on the podium.

In the Supakidz, Jemma Hynes (2nd 9 Years) continued her great season with another podium​ finish. Scott Marsh (5th 10 Years) just missed the podium in a very competitive category, Paige Hynes (8th 9 Years) continues to improve with each race and Maleah Roberts (15th 10 Years) had a strong race and finished it off with a smile.

Gold Coast Triathlon Luke Harrop Memorial - 10/4/16 - 750/20/5
Kirra Seidel - 2nd Place Open Female
Alex Barnes - 2nd Place​​ 16-19 Years Female
Michael Hooper - 2nd Place 20-24 Years Male
Maddison Dutton - 2nd Place 20-24 Years Female
Maureen Cummings - 2nd Place 50-54 Years Female
Melissa Charlton - 4th Place 30-34 Years Female​​​
Belinda Seccombe - 4th Place 40-44 Years Female
Kevin Hammond - 5th Place 35-39 Years Male
Jordan Wilkes - 7th Place 16-19 Years Male
Rachel James - 11th Place Open Female
Jake Hynes - 13th Place Open Male
Drew Westbrook - 14th Place 40-44 Years Male
Chris George - 23rd Place Open Male
Mark Corcoran - 31st Place 45-49 Years Male
Grant Cunning - 38th Place 30-34 Years Male​​​​​​

Enticer - 300/10/2.5
Meg Roberts - 1st Place U/16 Female
Kayleigh Foster - 2nd Place U/14 Female
Elliot Gray - 3rd Place Rising Stars Male
Macey Roberts - 6th Place Rising Stars Female
Tahlea Corcoran - 9th Place Rising Stars Female
Ryan Marsh - 13th Place Rising Stars Male​​​​​​

Superkidz - 100/2/400​
Jemma Hynes - 2nd Place 9 Years Female
Scott Marsh - 5th Place 10 Years Male
Paige Hynes - 8th Place 9 Years Female
Maleah Roberts - 15th Place 10 Years Female​​​​

Well done to all that raced. We will see SCTA athletes in action at the Tre-X Queensland Cross Triathlon Champs at Ewen Maddock Dam this Saturday where Brodie Gardner is leading the series. Good luck to all racing.​