Hervey Bay Triathlon: A 'must-do' race in 2012
This year marked the return of the Hervey Bay Triathlon after more than 10 years off the triathlon scene, and one of our regular contributors, Mark 'Sharky' Smoothy, ventured north to Hervey Bay to see if the once great race is back to it's best.
After a 10 year break Hervey Bay Triathlon is back!
The 2XU Hervey Bay Triathlon originally began back in 1988 and for a while there was one of Australia’s most popular triathlon holiday destinations. The race folded after 13 successful years in 2000, but once again, after a 10 year hiatus, resurrected this year on May 1 by the original race director, Ron Acutt. Ron was originally a top level pro athlete and he knew back then how to run a race and what competitors wanted. The 2011 edition has just picked up from where they left off in 2000. His Trifun Events Inc. is a ‘not for profit’ organisation and once again Ron and his team put on an event to be proud of. On a day that saw Hervey Bay competing with the Luke Harrop Memorial triathlon and the Ironman in Port Macquarie, the 300 individuals and 50 team members that fronted for this race will back me up here when I say: It was run like a world class event, but with a laid back idyllic country feel to it.
How fast is the Hervey Bay triathlon course?
This course has to be seen to be fully appreciated. The 1500 metre swim in the Fraser Island protected waters ensures a mirror-smooth swim each time. Be careful out there as you may bump into migrating populations of Humpback whales, dolphins or sea turtles, who frequently take a breather from the perils of the Pacific Ocean in these waters. The two-lap 40 kilometre bike course sees you go past the spectator crowd on four separate occasions, and travels along the Esplanade on a hot mix surface that insists you go too fast and reach the run knowing you that your legs are fried! And the run is an out-and-back five kilometre dead flat course that is shaded the entire way that also follows the Esplanade. Want to do a fast time over an Olympic distance race? Then this is the course for you.
Curious as to how Hervey Bay got its name?
Hervey Bay got its name thanks to Captain James Cook stumbling onto Fraser Island and thinking that the Island was actually the coast of Australia. Had he missed his nightcap and travelled a little further south he would have located the passage between Fraser Island and the actual coast of Australia. It was not until 1802 that the infamous Mathew Flinders set about mapping what the big man had missed. Anyway, Cook thought: 'what the hell can I name this piece of the coast that will keep me in the good books? That’s it, I’ll name it after my boss!' And so he did, and for the rest of Cook’s life Lord Augustus Hervey let him scamper around the world enjoying his ritual nightcaps.
Past champions of Hervey Bay Triathlon
In its 13 year history, the Hervey Bay triathlon saw its own run of captains ruling for the day. Some of the past winners of this race read of a who’s who of triathlon in the '80s and '90s. For most reading this article, these names will not be familiar, but let me assure you these guys and girls were some of the best triathletes, not only in Australia but at a world level. Names such as Miles Stewart, who won this event three times. Peter Stafford, the original winner back in 1988. Andrew Johns, who went on to become number one in the world. The girls were an unbelievable force in triathlons back then, just as they are now I guess. But these girls were the frontiers in our delightfully fun sport. Names such as Jackie Gallagher, who went to win the world triathlon championship. Liz Hepple, who became a world class cyclist and placed as high as third in the femmes’ version of the Tour de France. Rina Hill, known as Rina Bradshaw back then, went on to win races all over the world. Ironically Rina was back this year taking out third in the teams division with her husband Al. Joanna King, Bianca Van Woesik, Ruth Miller and Keri Scotcher are all names readers may not recall, but they were all such brilliant athletes and an important reflection on our rather short past in triathlons.
Courtney and Felicity add Hervey Bay wins to their resume
The race on the day was held under the most superb autumn day you could have wished for. Virtually no winds, tantalisingly smooth surf and a temperature of 22 degrees. The open men’s race was always going to be won by Courtney Atkinson – the man was in such fine form at the time that he made it look like he was just going through the paces to win comfortably by three minutes to Max Theodore. Courtney’s swim time of 19:45 suggests the 1500 metre course was a little on the long side. He averaged 40-kph for the accurate bike leg to record a slick 1:00:11 and his run split was a cruisy 32:39 for a combined total of 1:52:37. Theodore, to his credit, kept Courtney honest on the swim and bike legs by breathing down his neck the entire way. Only when they hit the run leg was when Theodore lost his three minutes to the trail blazing Courtney. Coming in third, six minutes adrift of Courtney, was Tim George, who finished in 1:59:16. Courtney went on to say at the presentations: “It was great to do a local race and I was extremely pleased with my performance today, it was a superbly organised race and if I can, I would love to return next year.”
In the women’s race it was also a one-horse race with Felicity Abram making the trek to Hervey Bay to lead from start to finish and cross the line in 2:05:11. This time was good enough for 13th place outright and a comfortable three minute buffer to second placed Lisa Marangon who finished in 2:08:51. Juliana Bahr-Thompson was third in 2:18:38.
Determined amateurs
The age groupers made up the majority of the field and special mention goes to first male and female amateur to finish in Steve Halliday, racing 30-34 in 2:03:54 and Susan Langley, who won her 40-44 age division and was fast enough to finish third outright. Extra special mention to Scott Kirby 4:03:38 and Aida Vizcaya 3:43:34, who were the last male and female competitors to cross the line, and in doing so, epitomised what the sport of triathlon is all about; in that is not about how fast you are, but how determined you are to finish what you started. Congratulations guys.
Hervey Bay is one of those ‘must-do races’ that you have to try at least once, but I can assure you that once will never be enough. My first Hervey Bay triathlon was back in the '80s. I loved it then and once again I returned some 15 years later and nothing has changed, I still love it now. Hope you can make the trek to get intimate with ‘Hervey’ in 2012.
Sharky
Words: Mark 'Sharky' Smoothy
Photo: Courtesy of Ron Acutt/Hervey Bay Tri
