A massive Weekend for the Sunshine Coast with the Ironman Asia Pacific Sunshine Coast 70.3 and Ironkids. Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Hybrid Concepts Australia Athletes were in action across the both days racing and also volunteering their time to help out. Head Coach Toby Coote was on commentary duties with Ironman Live on Sunday and a big thankyou to Brian Seccombe for being my chauffeur on the Jet ski while covering the swim leg of the race and transition tours on Saturday. 

The weekend started with the IronKids on the Saturday morning and the weather wasn't the greatest for these future champions but they handled themselves with exceptionally well and the junior sessions that they have been attending proved this in the performances and seeing the skill level above their fellow competitors. For the first time they timed the event and handed out prizes to the first placegetters. SCTA Juniors took out 3 wins (Matthew Nixon, Finn Barlow and Josh Nixon), 2 x 3rd places, 3 x 4th places, 1 x 5th. This is the future coming thru at SCTA

Onto the Sunshine Coast 70.3 and SCTA had 16 athletes racing. The weather turned out picture perfect for racing with a bit of a headwind on the last lap of the bike and the same for the run leg started to pick up in the middle of the run with a headwind on the way back to the finish line. Kirra Seidel lined up in the Professional Female category and was her first race for the season up against a quality female field where she had a great race to take 5th place. Both Malin Olsson (35-39) and Katie Kenny (40-44) had very strong races to also record 5th place and just miss out a roll down spot for the 70.3 World Champs. Brett Stalley (50-54) was 9th. The SCTA Male Team which had Drew Westbrook (Swim) Brodie Gardner (Cycle) and Satoshi Ashida (Run) took out the win

Special mention to Kate "The Doc" Gazzard (12th 35-39) had her final hit out before the big one in Kona with a solid training session replicating her paces and zones that she will follow in the World Ironman Champs in October. After finishing the race Kate ran for another 10km and looking good for Kona. For the ones that don't know Kate, she has wanted to qualify for Kona. There has been near misses, injuries, operations. Plenty of downs but finally got her High qualifying and has never looked back. Very well deserved. Kate and Tim will head off next Tuesday 22nd September where they will be getting married after the race. From all the crew at SCTA we wish them both a great trip, Kate a great race and an awesome wedding.

Thanks also to Kevin Hammond, Mark Evans, Taj Jones and Jake Hynes for helping out with lead bikes for the Professional male and female on Sunday.

Iron Kids 12.08.15
Finn Barlow 1st 9 Years Female
Matthew Nixon 1st 9 Years Male
Josh Nixon 1st 11 Years Male
Max Penny 3rd 7 Years Male
Benn Seiler 3rd 11 Years Male
Jemma Hynes 4th 9 Years Female
Scott Marsh 4th 10 Years Male
Madison Page 4th 10 Years Female
Ryan Marsh 5th 12 Years Male
Jake Hammond 6th 7 Years Male
Pipi Barlow 8th 7 years Female
Paige Hynes 9th 9 Years Female
Liam Wallace 11th 9 Years Male

Sunshine Coast 70.3 13.08.15
Drew Westbrook / Brodie Gardner / Satoshi Ashida 1st Male Teams
Kirra Seidel 5th Professional Female
Malin Olsson 5th 35-39 Female
Katie Kenny 5th 40-44 Years Female
Brett Stalley 9th 50-54 Years Male
Kate Gazzard 12th 35-39 Years Female
Melissa Charleton 29th 30-34 Years Female
Darren Lockhart 44th 40-44 Years Male
Rob Symmons 45th 40-44 Years Male
Meegan Walker 56th 35-39 Years Female
Jessica Lee 65th 30-34 Years Female
Adam Dubberley 94th 30-34 Years Male
Craig Richmond 94th 40-44 Years Male
Dean Saunders 143rd 35-39 Years Male
Grant Cunning 155th 30-34 Years Male

Well done to all that raced.