Race Report 2 30/10/2022

Race Report 30 October 2022
Absolutely gorgeous conditions welcomed everyone this morning for our Try a Tri event.  
Thanks kindly to the very generous support of The Happy Frog and Chicken Butchery who catered and sponsored today.   The Happy Frog provided the very tasty fruit salad and muesli/yoghurt and is a must visit for yummy wholefood and coffee/smoothies in town to ensure you recover after your next training hit out.   And for everything chicken you can’t go past the gourmet Chicken Butchery who kindly also sponsored and catered for our BBQ that was ably attended to by Paul Courtney with his assistants Pete Giddens, Phil Benoit and Sam Birch.
And thanks to all our volunteers out on the course and around transition, especially Adam Cox, our volunteer of the week, who found his Tri Club cowbell and enthusiastically saw us safely through the car park zone near the construction fencing on the run course.   Go Adam!   And to our timers Pete Roberts and Mick Booth who capably coped with the two wave change to the start format, thank you both.
Welcome to all new members and those having a go at triathlon for the first time - congratulations!.  And welcome back to all returning members that hit out for their first race of the season - Lee Varney, Kate Marsden, Bryan Van Der Walt, Cecil  Tempone, Dennis Houghton, Ian Nash, Craig Cusack, and Peter Giddens (apologies if I missed anyone - great to see you back!   We had 39 athletes doing the Sprint course, 7 on the Enticer and Phil Benoit nursing recovery with his hammie, did the Aquabike. 
After superb swim conditions, athletes took to the bike course and from all reports didn’t seem to be as busy as the last event.  Thanks everyone for riding safely and staying upright from the Jetty car wash to the Jetty Hotel and in and out of Marine Parade from the Yacht Club to the railway crossing past the Jordan Esplanade roundabout.   And terrific to see former Race Director Michael McFarlane volunteering back on the bike.
In the Enticer Delenn Croaker came home in the fastest time followed by Maria Wood and Katrina McFarlane (times pending).    
Our first Sprint female was Shannon O’Hara in 1:11:49 followed by Sarah Marsden 1:15:51 and in 3rd place Alina Hill 1:16.50.  In our males the Sprint event was taken out by Adrian Hawke in a fast 1:03:51 closely followed by Pat Brennan 6 seconds behind in 1:03:57 and in 3rd place Matt Moffatt rounding out the podium at 1:05:51.
Encouragement awards go to new member Mary-Ann Chayco who completed her first Sprint at the Club and Lydia McKay slowly getting use to the bike - check out Lydia and Sophia Lane on the ‘Stronger Stride’ podcast for some running stories and tips!  
If you are considering ordering any new club uniform items, this can be done through Catfish Designs with a range of club uniforms and clothing and apparel to choose from. The ordering window  opens online on 8 November for 2 weeks.  Check out the Catfish Designs web site to look at the items that will become available to order during this time.. If you have any questions please contact the Uniform Coordinator Caron Mackie and she can assist you.   [email protected].
A reminder that the Club participates in the North Coast Series and the first event is a Sprint race on 20 November in Kingscliff - it's a great weekend away and the course usually includes a fast swim if the tides are favourable.   
A heads up to save the date for our Christmas Party that will be held after our Teams event on 18 December at the Toormina Hotel.   Accommodation is also being organised for the NSW Club Champs on 27 May 2023 and we expect to have 50 booked places for athletes and family.  More to come on both through socials later…. 
Our next event is on 27 November - this is a change from the original date of 13 November due to a late clash with a sailing regatta.  Till then train well and stay safe!
Peter Birch
Race Director