Race Report #5 - 5 February 2023

Another ideal morning greeted our first race of 2023 and thanks to everyone for a great morning and safe race.    We acknowledge and appreciate the support of Tim at the Chicken Butchery, our race day sponsor.  If looking for tasty options for your next meal or function then get along to Tim at the Palms Centre. 
Our race wouldn’t happen without a bit of pre-race planning and timing coordinated by Pete Roberts.   Mick Booth was able to help out with the early set up and to you both - thank you!  Gotta say a big thanks to Paul Courtney and Cecil Tempone for stepping in and doing the honours on the barby - very tasty.  And thanks to all our volunteers for helping this week with Maria Wood the Volunteer of the Week who was getting involved with all tasks with enthusiasm - just being on the other end of a rack or board at the right time - well done and thanks xx!  
Great to see everyone remembering to stay 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.  Being mindful about the use of the road by other vehicles and pedestrians at and across roads at crossings is part of our sanctioned event.   There were no major incidents to report other than a pre race gash from a store rack to the head of the Race Director!   So 31 turned out with 2 in the Enticer, 1 doing the Aquabike and 28 for the Sprint distance.   
Big welcomes go to new members, first timers and visitors to the Club including Dean Caton from Darwin Tri Club now moved to the area, Mitchell Dockery, Mikey Curnow, David Johnson, Ben Callingham, Siarn O’Neill, and Fraser Duryea.  Great to see the Woopi tradies crew smashing out the course looking very solid with some great times.  Encouragement awards go to Fraser Duryea after a mechanical mishap but persisted by taking to the run course with his mates with a solid 22:51!  
In the Enticer Lee Varney took line honours with a 51:09 while Peter Woods followed up with a building 59:45 as part of his conditioning and training for his 40++ something full Ironman in Port Macquarie in May.  Tina Benoit came through in the Aquabike in 1:25:18 - congrat to Lee, Peter and Tina! 
Not since many of us can remember (might need to have Griffo check) have we had a female win the overall fastest time of the day and that went to Shannon O’Hara who is maintaining consistent form in 1:12:13 followed second in the females by Andrea Burth in 1:23:41 and Robyn Mcgeary in 1:27:30.  In our males Sprint event, Chris Hamilton takes out well deserved bragging rights with an impressive bike and run combo in 1:13:09 just ahead of  Mark Garner in 1:13:59 and Mark Kirstein in 1:14:58.   Congratulations especially to Shannon and Chris!  
Adam Cross put in a quick swim, followed by a solid bike leg to have a good hit out chased by Steve Thompson while Pete Timothy, Mark Kirstein and Shaun Lawer put in impressive bike legs.  Great  to see Ian Howchin, Wendy Maley, Ellie Luhr, Caron Mackie and Peter Giddens stretching the legs as a lead up to next weeks Trial Bay Tri. 
For the wave starts fastest finishers were Mitchel Dockery, (scratch), Shaun Lawer (wave 1 – 5 mins), Chris Hamilton (wave 2 – 10 mins) and Shannon O’Hara (wave 3 – 15 minutes).   Full results can be found on the web site at http://www.coffstri.com/results.html.
Ahead of our next event is a Club favourite the Trial Bay Triathlon at South West Rocks next weekend followed by the Tweed Enduro (Sprint, Aquabike and Half Ironman as well as other kids and community events).  Good luck to all members taking on these events and there is still time to register.   The next Club meet is the John Duffy Long Course event (1km swim; 30km bike and 7.5km run) on 26 February 2023 and will commence sharply at 6.15am to be off the roads by 8am.  In the meantime train well and stay safe!
Thank you
Peter Birch, Race Director 

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