HISTORY
In December 1985, a few hardy souls led by then local radio sports personality Les Rootsey, gathered at Coffs Jetty Beach to form the fledgling Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club. Little did they realise the growth and success that would follow in later years as word spread about this revolutionary sport that had begun to evolve on the North Coast. Regular events have been conducted since that time, including both winter and summer race series.
Way back then club races started and finished at a table and bench just back from the jetty beach. The swim course has stayed much the same, however the cycle course has had numerous changes. The introduction of traffic lights on the Highway and at Curacoa St and increased traffic at Brodie Drive meant continuing changes to the cycle course to the current location. The final run leg once went down to Macauley’s Headland and even over Beacon Hill to the Racecourse, now we all get to take in the beautiful jetty water views with a two lap run around the harbour.
Although the friendly nature of the events remains the same, one dramatic change has been the number of competitors participating each fortnight.
In that first event in 1985 there were only five starters; now our current membership figures are close to 300, split evenly between female and male. Clothing and gear has also changed, from back then when wetsuits were a luxury, no one wore swim caps, bikes were steel frames, no tri bars or sleek sunglasses and even helmets were not compulsory. Also you tied your shoe laces and changed into a t-shirt for the run. Nutrition was perhaps a vegemite or peanut butter sandwich, for those fully switched on a Uncle Tobys Muesli bar was the bees knees. How times have changed.
The club has been a starting point for Olympian's including Emma Moffat, as well as numerous National and State Champions. However the primary focus of the club is to provide a safe, healthy and friendly environment for athlete’s of all abilities.
Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club has been Country Champions eight times at the NSW Club Championships and in 2014 came within two points on being the first Country Club to win the state title.
The Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club owes a huge debt to many of our members who have contributed in many roles the over many years. Those who have made significant contributions have been honoured with Life Membership. They are:
Les Rootsey, Paul Bennie, Mick and Wendy Maley, Cheryle Patterson, Kath Porter, John Daffy, Andrew Rowlings, Anne Grundy, and Phil Benoit.
Way back then club races started and finished at a table and bench just back from the jetty beach. The swim course has stayed much the same, however the cycle course has had numerous changes. The introduction of traffic lights on the Highway and at Curacoa St and increased traffic at Brodie Drive meant continuing changes to the cycle course to the current location. The final run leg once went down to Macauley’s Headland and even over Beacon Hill to the Racecourse, now we all get to take in the beautiful jetty water views with a two lap run around the harbour.
Although the friendly nature of the events remains the same, one dramatic change has been the number of competitors participating each fortnight.
In that first event in 1985 there were only five starters; now our current membership figures are close to 300, split evenly between female and male. Clothing and gear has also changed, from back then when wetsuits were a luxury, no one wore swim caps, bikes were steel frames, no tri bars or sleek sunglasses and even helmets were not compulsory. Also you tied your shoe laces and changed into a t-shirt for the run. Nutrition was perhaps a vegemite or peanut butter sandwich, for those fully switched on a Uncle Tobys Muesli bar was the bees knees. How times have changed.
The club has been a starting point for Olympian's including Emma Moffat, as well as numerous National and State Champions. However the primary focus of the club is to provide a safe, healthy and friendly environment for athlete’s of all abilities.
Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club has been Country Champions eight times at the NSW Club Championships and in 2014 came within two points on being the first Country Club to win the state title.
The Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club owes a huge debt to many of our members who have contributed in many roles the over many years. Those who have made significant contributions have been honoured with Life Membership. They are:
Les Rootsey, Paul Bennie, Mick and Wendy Maley, Cheryle Patterson, Kath Porter, John Daffy, Andrew Rowlings, Anne Grundy, and Phil Benoit.