Weekly Newsletter 21 October 2013

BIG WEEKEND
It was a huge weekend for racing this weekend, with club members all over the place testing their mettle in some tough races.
 
First and foremost was our club race which saw around 100 members racing over both distances. It was yet another race held in perfect conditions. A big thanks to everyone for arriving early as it meant the race started at 6.30 am, which in turn made a big difference in terms of road traffic. Just a gentle reminder for those on duty to please remember to sign on when you arrive. 
 
There were lots of PBs on both courses.

Aimee Sutton put in a super-fast time to be the fastest female of the day, while Dan Stein, Reece Edwards and Clint Rowlings battled it out to be fastest male. Dan won out with a little over 30s to spare.  Jacinta Smithers and Tenielle Stubbs both had good races. There was some great racing from Barry Campton, and Sione & Rachel George who are all fine-tuning their race day performance in preparation for Noosa.  Lee Burgess and Lachie
Binet both showed some good form. It was fantastic to see Leisel Brown back on the course, returning after illness.   Former club secretary Dennis Houghton also made a very courageous return.
 
Once again, Sam Bourke and Emily Malouf dominated the short course, with Tim Martin not far behind.  
  
Thanks to Michael and Julie Basa who donated $80 in Big W vouchers.  We hope to see them become regulars at our club events. And thanks also to the sponsors for the day: Julie Reynolds Naturopath; Thermal Electric Elements; Coffs Harbour Cardiology; and Coffs Olympic Pool.

PORT MAC 70.3
A regular pilgrimage for CHTC members, Port Macquarie 70.3 is one of the best Ironman branded events in Australia, and well within a close drive from home. The club was well-represented, and there were some great results over what proved to be a tough course. Well done to everyone who completed the course on a hot, windy day. 
 
Here are some of the results (apologies to anyone not  included): 
Mark Garner 05:02:58, Hadley Black 05:39:26, Joe Kane 04:50:34, Peter Wood 07:27:55, Susan Clarke 07:41:20, Phillip Viles 05:45:35, Andrew Pitzen 05:21:02, Lee Varney 07:12:29; Ben Flanagan 05:10:43, Charles Stockton
05:35:56, Mark Griffiths 05:41:02, Cliff Lloyd 06:37:10, Wendy Maley 06:48:26, Judy Chesney 07:58:06, Scott Brealey 05:33:58, Lisa Alford put in a fantastic effort but some technical difficulties on the bike could not be repaired and saw her pulling out early. Great excuse to go back next year Lisa. 
 
Joe Kane penned this report: 
“Pito, Joe and Flaners started in the wave just after the female pros with high hopes of pushing hard over the first hundred and getting on their feet to get some toe in the swim.  Mark Garner started a few waves back and Woodsy (Hollywood) somewhere in between. Hollywood may have been late to the race start as he was very busy showing everyone the feature story in the official program about himself.  With the race about to start, Pito realised he had lost his timing chip and left his goggles in his tent back at the camp ground. It is fair to say he was maybe a little unorganised and very stressed at this point. 
 
The race got underway under clear blue skies with a deep water start off the banks of the Hastings River with a decent current helping us along. That is until the turn around when we all headed back into that current making the last half quite the challenge. GPS data told us that the swim was closer to 2.3 than 1.9.
The bike was typical for Port, the 1st and 3rd legs were with the wind and fast, the 2nd and 4th into the wind and tough. The hills felt much steeper than last year. Mathew Flinders Drive was very tough in particular. There was a nasty crash in the ride caused by a stray gas canister. The lesson from this is to make sure all your kit is secured to your bike. The roads in Port are rough so tape your kit on. Mark Garner looked the business on the bike and held this into the run, finishing strong on a very hard course.

A new and long hill was added to the run which when coupled with the heat and wind made the run leg of the race very challenging. Talking over the race in the recovery tent after the finish, fellow competitors confirmed my thoughts that 2013's version of this race was very  tough and finish times reflected this. 
 
Overall today's conditions provided a lesson in how to suffer and still finish a race and all who did showed bucket
loads of intestinal fortitude and should be very proud of a great effort. Well done on a hot and windy day in
Port.

Coffs Tri club had a many starters and great support on course. To all those members we did not mention, we apologise and we'll bloody done.” 
 
NATIONAL AQUATHLON TITLES
Lyndal Green contested the national Aquathlon titles in Victoria on the weekend, winning her age group, and finishing 5th female overall. She then backed up with a 2nd in her category in the Olympic Distance race the next
day. Wow. Congratulations Lyndal. That is an amazing and very impressive result.  
 
COOLANGATTA  GOLD
Team ”Coffs Force” came third in the teams relay at the Coolangatta Gold. This was to be expected with club members Daniel Bannerman and Richard Pearson and club member-in-law Mark Sutton on the team. They
finished the 23km surf ski, 1.8km run, 3.5km swim, 6.1km paddle board and 7.1km run in a formidable 4:34:02. Well done Team Coffs Force. 
 
CAMDEN HAVEN
If you are up for a low-key triathlon in a beautiful location that includes swimming in pristine waters, riding along picturesque roads and capping it off with a lovely run through a sleepy seaside town, then have a go at the Camden Haven triathlon. 
 
To be held on Sunday 1 December at 7am, the 600m swim, 28km cycle and 6.5km run takes in some of the best scenery that Camden Haven has to offer. Not only is it great to support and participate in local events, but it is also good to support events put on by another country triathlon club. Port Macquarie Triathlon Club are also staging other events, such as a 1km ocean swim and a junior triathlon, making it a great family weekend away. 
  
See the attached poster or Port Macquarie Triathlon Club’s web page for more details at http://www.portmactriclub.com.au/camden-haven-2011/. 
 
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Time is drawing near to regain our crown as Best Country Triathlon Club at the NSW Club Championships in Forster which will be held on 5th April 2014.  
 
This is the premier event for our club and is held in a superb location in Forster’s town centre. CHTC has a long and proud tradition of competing and enjoying themselves at this iconic event. Once again, we have
again booked accommodation at Forster Holiday Village. The cost for the weekend is $80.00 which includes two nights’ accommodation, drinks and pizzas on Saturday and the highly sought after special event shirt. 
  
The committee would love to see as many members as possible make the journey for the weekend. Those who prefer to just make the trip down for the day are also most welcome, and volunteers also help to garner points for the club. As a further incentive the Club will be offering $20 off the entry fee to the event which can be taken advantage of when you register online on the TRINSW website at https://regonline.activeglobal.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1316738. 
  
To secure your sport or indicate your interest please email Club President Michael Dougherty at [email protected].
 
FREE ORIENTEERING EVENTS!!!
Bored with the bitumen? Adventure racing just not doing it for you anymore? Then maybe you need to spice it up with orienteering! And here’s your chance to experience this emerging sport for free.  
  
Orienteering NSW are holding free "give it a go" events this weekend around the Coffs Harbour area.  The locations are as follows: 
Friday 25 October, Sportz Central, Bray St, 3-6pm 
Sat 26 October, Coffs Harbour Education Campus, Hogbin Drive, 3-5pm
Sun 27 October, Wonga Park, 3/4th Ave., Sawtell, 9.30-11.30am
 
If you want to participate you can just turn up between those times and start when you wish to.  For more information contact Bruce Meder on 0426 876 316.  
 
FOR SALE
Cath Harrison has a bike for sale that would suit a smaller female or junior. The bike is running a Dura-Ace gearset and includes a set of Zipp wheels, as well as the training wheels. Cath is looking for $1200 for the bike.
Photos can be seen below. Contact Cath or email Andrew Rowlings on [email protected] for more details.
  
WISE WORDS
 “Think not, is my eleventh commandment; and sleep when you can, is my twelfth.” - Herman Melville (1819-1891)