The fourth annual Brunswick Surf Life Saving Club Tryathlon was held in perfect conditions last Sunday. Entry numbers were up on last year by 25% and over 100 competitors swam, cycled and ran through the streets of Brunswick Heads. Organisers were extremely happy with the whole event and were particularly appreciative of all the volunteers who turned up on the day making it a smooth-running and successful triathlon. Teams figured heavily in this year’s entries with 23 age, social, family and club groups competing mostly completing a leg each as only two teams had two members.
Competitors were especially happy about the new cycle leg that this year that was a one lap circuit as opposed to the previous 3 years which demanded that riders complete several laps of the same circuit. Bruns Valley rescue were on hand again to direct traffic and keep everyone safe and the local police also cycled through the morning. Line honours for the event went to Hayden Wilkinson who won first place for his under 18 mens team which included swimmer Adam McNamara, cyclist Brendan Cole and Hayden who completed the event in the run. The overall winner for the event was Dwain Fitzsimmons who ran in the 18-35 mens division and finished the course in 33 minutes. The winner in the women’s section and under 18s was Bridget Barnes.
Other individual winners were in the under 18 boys; Greg Hall, women 18- 35; Claire Ward, 36-49 men; Geo Collier, 36-49 women; Deb Fuller and in the 50+ age group the winners were Mr McDonald and Molly. The event was a great tryout for teams with Lachlan, Barry and Jo Stewart winning the family section and the open male winning team of Micahel Schwager, Brad Acton and Tom Anderson. The winner of the female event was the two women team of Jeda Greenlaw and Belinda Smith and the mixed team prize went to Margo Sanyer, Dick Warren and Shaunnagh Cassidy. The SLSC now feel that they have a handle on the event and are looking forward to a bigger and better event next year.
Byron Shire Echo 30/9/08