Byron Bay Triathlon – A race you can't miss in 2012!

The Byron Bay Triathlon traditionally signaled the last race of the QLD/NSW triathlon calendar. Now with Challenge Cairns lifting off, it has become the perfect tune-up race.

This race is steeped in history and continues to grow each year as the organisers continually strive to make changes that will give the competitors the best race experience possible. A few years ago a new organiser took charge in Jacqueline Hogan and since her arrival the race has gone from strength to strength. Changes this year were as follows:

• Brand new transition area set up on the grass above the beach; the desired result being not one person disadvantaged no matter where they racked their bike, and after completing my 12^th Byron Bay triathlon this year, I have to agree that it worked exceptionally well.

• The goodies bag just keeps getting better every year and the value for money early bird entry fee of $160 for an individual saw competitors walk away with a cool set of multi coloured sun-arm protectors and a pair of 2XU compression socks and some great tasting sports bars from Megaburn. The great thing about 2XU and Megaburn is that they are both local companies and they love supporting local events so it is a win-win situation for all involved.

• The swim was tweaked from last year to a much simpler U-shaped course that saw a 250 metre swim out to the first buoy, then travel parallel to the beach for 1000 metres. culminating with 250 metres back in to the finish.

• The bike this year was reduced to 36 kilometres thanks to unsafe roads due to all the inclement weather over this never ending wet season.

• An expo was set up in the old transition area and this doubled as a great viewing platform for the hundreds of enthusiastic spectators.

• And finally, the run course had always measured long in the past but now the four-lap, spectator-friendly, flat course, that included a section of sand each lap, was now a dead accurate 10 kilometres in length.

The week leading up to the Byron Bay Triathlon saw Queensland and the northern parts of NSW experience some of the most pleasant and welcoming mild weather since the crazy weather patterns began back in December of last year. Two weekends in a row we had been blessed with perfect conditions for competitions and the locals and all the visitors to Byron Bay this year were out in force and lapping it up. Even the huge surf of a week ago had settled down and was a joy to swim in for the majority of participants. The start time for the first wave off, the open men, was brought forward to 12pm and with a wave leaving every two minutes the 800-strong field were all in the water by 12:30pm. Very little wind on the bike leg, plus being only 36 kilometres, saw some super quick bike times being recorded, not just from the professional field, but from age groupers alike.

Byron has always attracted a class field in the professionals and this year’s 16^th running of this iconic Aussie event was a little different in that just a few young guns opted to race. Joseph Lampe from Lennox Heads led from start to finish and was was so far in front he could have stopped at the local pub for a beer on the run and still won. Lampe’s winning time of 1:45:25 was a good five minutes faster than his closest competitor in Aaron Royle in 1:50:42 and a further two minutes back to Max Theodore. Lampe had this to say about his win:

“As soon as the race started I knew I had to play to my strengths. I really needed to push the swim and bike and hope that I had enough to hold on in the run. I knew that Aaron Royle and the boys would be trying to run me down, so I had to get a good start and keep myself up front.”

Lampe led from the water by a scant 10 seconds over Royle, increased this to three minutes by the end of the bike, and surprised everyone, including himself, when he put a further two minute buffer into Royle half way through the run. Lampe continued:

“It was an amazing feeling over the last few kilometres knowing that I had a massive lead. I was able to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the sound of the huge crowd in Byron Bay cheering me on.”

Abram wins two Olympic triathlons five days apart:

The female pro field was small as well, with the main contenders being Felicity Abram, who won comfortably in 1:57:09 to Lisa Marangon, who crossed the line three minutes behind in 2:00:19, and Courtney Gilfillan was a further 90 seconds back for third in 2:01:50. Felicity is showing good form at the pointy end of the season with another win just five days prior in the resurrected Hervey Bay triathlon. Felicity is now a member of Team TBB, an elite squad coached by Brett Sutton. Her recovery from her hip injury is progressing well and I can only say watch this space once the training from Brett kicks in.

Outstanding age group results:

• Some outstanding age group results saw our oldest competitor, Keith Pearce from Foster, romp around in 2:43:25 to win his 70 plus division.
• Also to Robyn Morgan, our oldest female competitor, a sprightly 60 plus lady, won her division in 2:40:35.
• It is always good to see the heavy men of the sport getting out and giving it a good hit out, with Stanwell Park's Trevor Kemper putting six minutes into his nearest competitor in Warren Harris, when he crossed the line in a slick time of 2:07:09.
• Outstanding result from David Clark, racing in his 30-34 division, winning in a very impressive time of 1:49:59. This time was the fastest amateur on the day. Will we see David turn pro next season?
• Great job by Kate Grattan from the Gold Coast for being the first female age grouper home in 2:06:44.
• To our youngest male and female racing in the 16-19 division, congratulations go to Modanville's Bradley Clark, who won in 1:57:30. And to Melanie Kaasinen, from Deagon winning in 2:14:01.

Teams are not forgotten:

Many individual competitors start out as team members. Often the team competition is overlooked in the results so I would like to point out that your contribution to triathlon is indeed appreciated and noticed and I would like to at least give a few of the winning teams some recognition. Congratulations to the open men's team of Sunrise Cycles who won a close race by less than a minute to Primum Non Nocere. A great result also from the girls of Fitnance who took out the open women's division in 2:17:37 over second placed Golden Girls in 2:24:10. Tri addiction in this same category finished a mere ten seconds behind in third position. The mixed team victory went to Rina and Al Hill, who demolished the team of HAS by five minutes when they crossed the line in 1:57:10.

Congratulations to all who took on Byron for their first time.