Race Updates

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Hybrid Concepts Australia with athletes racing across the world front and here in Australia with Fiji Oceania Cup Race, Challenge Salou, Noosa Ultimate Multisport Festival weekend and then Ironman Asia Pacific Championships and 70.3 in Cairns.

Before I get to the Race Report

Triathlon lost one of the good guys to Cancer in the lead up to the Cairns Ironman and 70.3. One of the founding members of The Caloundra Triathlon Club, Scott "Aardvark" Penny, also a renowned Triathlon Coach had passed away. It was great to see the "Zoo" out in force on Race Day and also in to the early hours cheering on the last of the athletes across the line. To the Caloundra Tri Club Crew - You did Aardvark proud and he would of been looking down with a huge smile on his face. RIP Mate

On to Fiji was 37degrees out on the course for the Oceania Triathlon Union Oceania Cup race over the sprint distance. Rachel James hadn't had the ideal prep as she was in Vanuatu working on SPC RESCCUE Project working with the communities on climate control and also the devastation that the cyclone did to the reefs and surrounding areas living on a boat so training was very limited. However she still got out there and performed the best she could on the day taking 2nd place on the podium and being the first PNG athlete, Male or Female, ever to be on a podium in an ITU event.

While in Spain, Kirra Seidel lined up in the Challenge Salou over the 1.9/90/21.1 distance to take 3rd place Professional Female. She is currently enjoying a training holiday throughout Europe.

The Noosa Ultimate Multisport Festival of Swim events on the Saturday and Run events and Cycle events on the Sunday. Under perfect blue skies and ideal temperatures for racing SCTA athlete Kayleigh Foster (13-15 Years 2km) lead the charge on Saturday with a 3rd place, while on the Sunday Malin Olsson (Open Half Marathon) crossed the line in 3rd place, with young gun Ryan Marsh (U15 Years 5km) in 4th place. Kevin "Big Dog" Hammond broke the 40min barrier for the 10km for the first time to record 39.20.

Cairns Ironman and 70.3 put up some very tough and trying conditions. With a very choppy swim and water temp of 26 degrees, on and off rain, humidity when the sun did come out and a headwind from the turn around point back to Cairns of 20-30km/hr it was going to be a hard day in the office for all.

SCTA had 2 competitors in the Ironman, with both being a little under prepared with Grant Cunning (new bubs) and Peter Schultz (Backing up from Port Mac IM) it wasn't going to be pretty. But to both boys credit they got in there and did the best they could with the confronting conditions and finished with Peter 12:21:28 and Grant 12:51:28

With the 70.3 starting an 1hr before the Ironman, the athletes went thru the same conditions except for a bit more rain as they came in from the end of the cycle leg and for a majority of the run. Best of the crew was Matt "Doc" Wolstencroft (3rd) who had already qualified for World 70.3, Kate Gazzard (5th) and Michael Hooper (7th) just missing out on qualification in tough age categories.

Fiji Oceania Cup - 28.05.16 - 750/20/5
Rachel James - 2nd Place Professional Female

Noosa Multisport Festival 28-29.05.16
2km Ocean Swim - 28.05.16
Kayleigh Foster - 3rd 13-15 Years Female
Half Marathon - 29.05.16
Malin Olsson - 3rd Place Open Female
10km - 29.05.16
Kevin Hammond - 15th Place 30-39 Years Male
5km - 29.05.16
Ryan Marsh - 4th Place U/15 Male

Challenge Salou - 29.05.16 - 1.9/90/21.1
Kirra Seidel - 3rd Place Professional Female

Asia Pacific Ironman Championships - Cairns - 12/06/16 - 3.8/180/42.2
Peter Schultz - 63rd Place 50-54 Years Male - 12:21:22
Grant Cunning - 92nd Place 30-34 Years Male - 12:51:28
Cairns 70.3 - 1.9/90/21.1
Matt Wolstencroft - 3rd Place 45-49 Years Male
Kate Gazzard - 5th Place 35-39 Years Female
Michael Hooper - 7th Place 18-24 Years Male
Rachel Cullen - 9th Place 35-39 Years Female
Kevin Hammond - 26th Place 35-39 Years Male
Scott Shults - 46th Place 40-44 Years Male

Well done to all that raced and Good luck to all racing the Moreton Bay Grand Prix Duathlon this Saturday and the Caloundra Foreshore Run on Sunday.