Triathlon Australia Celebration of Champions
After the Dextro Energy Sydney ITU Triathlon many age group athletes joined the stars of the sport, both short course and long, at the inaugural Triathlon Australia Celebration of Champions Dinner. Present were reigning world and Olympic champions, past World champions and some special guests from both political and sporting backgrounds to help celebrate what has been a remarkable 12 months for the sport of Triathlon in Australia.
In opening the evening President Peter Hedge welcomed Australia’s Federal Minister for Sport, the Honourable Mark Arbib, Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott, the newly appointed NSW Minister for
Sport and Recreation, the Honourable Graham Annesley, along with representatives from the International Triathlon Union, the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Commission. Tony Abbott spoke about his passion for the sport, and we can only hope he has an influence on his State colleague Barry O’Farrell who has recently cast doubt on the future of the Sydney ITU race with his stance on sporting events disrupting Sydney car drivers.
It was great to see assembled such a cross section of the Triathlon world including former world champions Jackie Fairweather (nee Gallagher) and Miles Stewart; two time World Ironman and 70.3 World Ironman Champion Craig Alexander, and dual Olympian and three time world champion Peter Robertson.
During the night Triathlon Australia presented the National Junior Series Champions, Age Group National Series Champions, and the Athlete of the Year Awards, acknowledging performances of our elite athletes over the 2009/2010 season.
The dinner provided a unique opportunity for age group members to dine and mingle with our current elite stars, our past champions and some legends of the sport like Dave Orlowski and John Maclean.
You may want to start thinking about getting a table of your triathlon friends together for next year’s event.
At Trizone we have followed most Australian professional’s over the last year and whilst not up for awards at the Triathlon Australia champions dinner many other of our top triathletes had some amazing performances over the last 12 months.
Pete Jacobs 3rd fastest ever marathon at the World Ironman Championship in Kona in 2010 is right up there. A 2:41:05 marathon was punched out by Pete after getting a penalty on the bike. This could have been a run with a bit of anger but he will go down in history as the 3rd fastest runner ever at Kona.
Our 70.3 triathletes had a huge year last year in the USA. Guys like Joe Gambles, Josh Rix, Tim Berkel, Matty White and women such as Kate Major, Kate Bevilaqua and company all had amazing seasons during 2010. Gambles was 4th overall at the 70.3 world championship.
Courtney Ogden and Kate Bevilaqua’s wins at Busselton 2010 were also significant moments in triathlon last year. Both were gritty performances against top opposition.
Rebekah Keat won
Challenge Copenhagen, Ironman Louisville and Shepparton half ironman,
was second at Challenge Roth to Chrissie Wellington and second at
Ironman WA amongst other great results.
In 2010 Belinda Granger
won Challenge Wanaka, Ironman Malaysia, Rhoto Ironman 70.3 in Hawaii,
was third at the 2010 Asia-Pacific 70.3 championship, 6th at the recent
Ironman South Africa and was second to Michelle Wu at the Taiwan 70.3.
There were other strong results as well.
Australian National Triathlon Championship Series 2011
Age Group Champions
Male
Open Mitchell Kibby
15-19 James Hodge
20-24 Andrew Elshaw
25-29 Troy O’Shea
30-34 Peter Court
35-39 Simon Nash
40-44 Troy Ibbott
45-49 Jeff Collier
50-54 John Hill
55-59 Geoffrey Taylor
60-64 Martin Brigden
65-69 Brian Alderman
70-74 Bernard Crowe
75-79 Jolyon Ward
Female
Open Matilda Raynolds
15-19 Annalise Jefferies
20-24 Alissa Williams
25-29 Clara Brown/Kelly Spottiswood
30-34 Jenelle Webster
35-39 Cyrma Hear
40-44 Sara Finch
45-49 Linda O’Connor
50-54 Sue Luckhurst/Louise McNulty
55-59 Monica Stewart
60-64 Christine Walker
Australian Age Group World Champions 2011
Jai Forster 30-34
Male Sprint Distance World Champion
Jane Mountford 60-64
Female Sprint Distance World Champion
Michael Prince 30-34
Male Olympic Distance World Champion
Damien Angus 35-39
Male Ironman World Champion
2XU Australian Junior Series Champions 2011
Male
1st Scott Llewellyn
2nd Jack Hickey
3rd Brayden Tucker/Marcel Walkington
Female
1st Ellie Salthouse
2nd Tamsyn Moana-Veale
3rd Ashlee Bailie
Athlete of the Year Award Nominees
Chris Hewitt Emerging Athlete Award
Emma Jackson
Ashleigh Gentle
Jamie Huggett
Winner
Emma Jackson
Individual Performance of the Year – Female
Emma Moffatt
Emma Snowsill
Mirinda Carfrae
Emma Jackson
Winner
(Joint winners)
Emma Snowsill & Emma Moffatt
Individual Performance of the Year – Male
Brad Kahlefeldt
Courtney Atkinson
Chris McCormack
Craig Alexander
Winner
Chris McCormack
Athlete’s Athlete of the Year Award
Emma Moffatt
Emma Snowsill
Mirinda Carfrae
Emma Jackson
Brad Kahlefeldt
Courtney Atkinson
Chris McCormack
Craig Alexander
Winner
Mirinda Carfrae
