Race Reports

A cracker of a race for the last event of the Paddy Pallin Adventure Race Series 2009-10

World Ironman Champ Craig Alexander was fired up to reclaim his Australian Long Course Championship crown from last year’s winner Pete Jacobs. In 2009, Crowie had to be content with second place when mechanical spanners in the bike works lost him huge chunks of time. Never once making excuses, Crowie quietly waited a year to make amends in 2010, winning in a race record time. But, the ‘pocket rocket’ did not have it all his way, with Jacobs making him work every inch of the way.

The Salomon Tre-X Enduro was back for another year. It just wouldn’t be the same without a little bit of mud to make for an interesting day out. Get down and dirty with adventure racer Geoff Suess’ race action. 

The 90s decade brought us Craig McLachlan and Check 1-2’s ‘Mona’, television’s Man O Man and fashion criminal happy pants. It was also the height of enduro racing with the Triathlon Grand Prix Series. Courtney Atkinson was the only athlete in the field at Caloundra on February 7th to have experienced this type of explosive racing. The Olympian and multiple national champion proved he still had it on the day.

The fourth running of the annual Challenge Wanaka event delivered an amazing day that initially tricked competitors into thinking it was going to be cruisey. The wicked wind of past years competitors had faced for 100 kilometres from Cromwell back to the finish line, had this year swung around providing a homeward tailwind. And, what started out as 11 degrees for a swim start finished with 30 degrees by mid-afternoon – just in time for the marathon.

Yet another record field ventured south for Ironman 70.3 Geelong. Who says Aussies aren’t getting into all the tri action? Not to be outdone by the 1500 competitors, was the number of spectators who gathered early, creating an electric atmosphere lining the streets and footpaths. All eyes were on two-time World Ironman Champion Craig Alexander.

The Great Ocean Road and great adventures were all part of the Anaconda Adventure Race International Series held in a favourite Victorian coastal town of Lorne. Former Ironman triathlete, champion adventurer and coach Jan Leverton tells us all about her great times on course.

The sixth and final incarnation of Ironman WA, or Busso as it’s affectionately known, under the IMG regime has been run and won by two champion athletes – Gina Crawford (nee Ferguson, NZ) and Patrick Vernay (New Caledonia), each for the second time.