Monday 3 April 2017

Race Rap - Club Champs 2017


Race Wrap - Club Champs 2017

Another year and another Club Champs.
 
I plugged Forster, NSW into my phone but it kept pointing me over the Blue Mountains and into the deep West.

So it was that 2017 would see a reverse sea-change as we swapped beaches for reservoirs.

The majority of our Club were holed up in a motor lodge and I pity the only non-Balmoral customers who had to sit through 2 hours of triathletes eating breakfast on the morning of the race.

For those who don’t know, Orange is a town that can’t decide whether it is Cinderalla or one of her ugly step sisters. With vineyards, orchards, beautiful scenery and some trendy cafes, Orange is the new Black (or Berry, as the case may be).

Yet when you roll down main street past one of the many pubs with generic country town names like the Royal or the Imperial you feel like Annakin Skywalker looking at the Dark side.

But I digress.

Race morning dawned windy and cold. Skinny triathletes everywhere shivered in fear. Thankfully the leader of Balmoral’s skinny triathletes Owain Matthews was rugged up safely back in Mosman.

The swim was dark and murky. The ride was rough and bumpy. The run was up, up, up and down.

Dean Degan led all comers to be our top BTC athlete. He ran with soul and was later crowned King of the Dance Floor that night.

Obviously everyone that raced did extremely well on a tough course but there were some notable mentions:

Hannahlore Paxton, she of 80 plus year old fame, was the oldest person in the race and watching her chug around the course was truly inspiring. She shook my hand after the race and I haven’t washed it since.

John Simmonds and Keith Spackman raced extremely well. Jack McPhee was strong on the course but weak on the beers. More practice required for the latter.

Mimi didn’t stop smiling during the whole race. Bel Fong didn’t stop supporting for the whole race, backed up admirably by LeeLee, Amy H and many more.

We were a gallant 3rd overall in the Club Champs. It was a great result from a great club. Yet when the dance floor appeared, BTC came to the fore and led by Bel Fong’s colourful dancing shoes, we took out the coveted ‘Best After Party Performance’.

Triathlon is a highly individualised sport. To be able to race as a team, eat as a team and dance as a team is something that is so rare in the world of swim, bike and running.

This was my 3rd club champs and it did not disappoint.

Planning for 2018 has already started. Lock it in your calendars because we are coming.