Weekly Newsletter 13 January 2014

Sundays Race
This week we return to the normal Triathlon Format, many will be trying out new equipment & additional fitness gained over  Christmas, for others it will be the first time back after the festive season, whatever the case it will make for interesting racing on Sunday. Please arrive early so we can get off to a prompt start at 6:30am.

Uniforms
Please pick up your uniform orders, see Michelle at the race on Sunday or give her a call to arrange a pick up or drop off.  There will be an order placed in late January,  this will be the last order until next season and is your last chance before club champs, so if you want to look  good for the premier club race of the season get your order in ASAP. 

Club Championships – Forster 6th April 2014
Time to get organised as Entries will open later this month, please see last week’s newsletter for details on how to enter.

Hell of the West
Goondiwindi Motel Room
Due to a last minute cancellation, there is a motel room available for the Hell of the West race at Goondiwindi on February 1st and 2nd. Should you be interested please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

There is no accommodation left in the town for this race, with some people staying elsewhere and driving in on race morning.

The room is available on both Saturday and Sunday night, and will go to the first person to contact Andrew Rowlings on the above email.

Looking Forward- 2014?- By Club Coach Andrew Rowlings
With the celebratory period now behind us, the vast majority of club members begin to look into 2014 and ponder what it may hold in terms of events and race day performances.

Likewise the club as a whole tends to look to the future, having evolved to an organisation that prides itself on being proactive rather than reactive.

So what is ahead for 2014?

LOCALLY:
We can expect to enjoy improved events, both on a club scene and also those organised by different committees, groups or organisations.

Club racing is always going to be the hub of our club, and the constant appearance of new faces will continue to make things interesting as we see the progression of a lot of “beginners” into seasoned athletes who blossom from week to week.

This is blatantly obvious when standing on pool deck, or perusing result sheets. Those who were once rookies have morphed into highly talented and capable athletes who exude an air of confidence when they hit a start line.

With another year under the belt, look to Coffs Ocean Swims and the BCU Triathlon to have bigger fields and a higher profile. Hopefully this year we can produce a local winner, with Dan Stein taking the second prize purse last year, maybe he is the man to watch in March. Our other local professional licence holder, Richard Pearson, has spend 12 months learning the course and is unlikely (we hope) to take a wrong turn in the 2014 version of the race.

Club members will also be well represented at South West Rocks and Wooli, both highly popular and considered regional events.

STATE WIDE:
As our gaze turns further afield, the main aim is for another bold showing at Forster for the NSW Club Championships.

Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club has always performed well here, and in the early years punched well above our weight.

Nowadays we are not only frontrunners for the title of Champion Country Club, but also a serious contender in the overall point-score.

Get your entries in! They open next week and are likely to sell out again in 2014.

NATIONALLY:
Racing around the country appears to be in a very healthy position.

Yes, there have been some races that have disappeared from the calendar, but in the vast majority of cases they have been relocated or replaced with similar events.

Take the time to browse through the calendar and find somewhere you have not previously visited. Sign up and experience a race that may surprise you with its quality.

Kingscliff is a good example of this. Not too far away, cheap to enter, closed roads and a very enjoyable day that caters for everyone.

If longer course is your preference, a new 70.3 based at Penrith may appeal. Alternatively, look outside the mainstream for an old-fashioned community event with both Goondiwindi and Hervey Bay excellent options.

INTERNATIONALLY:
We will watch with interest and expectation to see if Australian triathletes can continue to be prominent in racing around the globe.

Miranda Carfrae and Melissa Hauschildt have set very high standards for our long course women to follow, while Emma Moffatt continues to hold her place at the top of the shorter races.

The re-appearance of triathlon at the Commonwealth Games gives Emma the opportunity to expand on her already overflowing resume. The addition of a mixed teams relay gives her an additional chance to add a medal, following the individual race.

Let’s hope that 2014 will see our leading men bounce back in the ITU arena after a few lean seasons. In contrast our long course males have been flying the flag in style, with a whole squadron of winners and placegetters in races globally.

You may be surprised at how many locals race outside of Australia in 2014. Starting from next week we already have members entered in Auckland, Malaysia, Honu and Kona. That list is sure to grow, with the world much more accessible, even when travelling with a bike.

Overall, 2014 looks to have a lot of positives on all levels for the triathlon community.

Take the time to sit down for 10 minutes and see what the year ahead may hold for you.

Wise Words
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
Walt Disney

"Nothing at all will be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome."
Samuel Johnson