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Written by Andrew Evans
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Monday, 18 January 2010 07:42 |
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We had a very fortunate day out at Torquay on Saturday 16th January for the Danger 1000. A day of wonderful weather and near perfect conditions for a swim. Here are a few of the days highlights.
Megan Priest swam first in The Juniour Challenge and came in third in the 13 year old category. What a great way to start the day! Well done Megan! Congratulations on your first podium placing in Open Water Swimming
Mike Gowan easily won his category and Kate Murphy went down to the Brazillian torpedo in her class and came in a very creditable second. Great swims both!
Paul Attard raced on Nick Bohan's ticket and had to be careful not to win the category coming in a well planned 4th.
Megan Dearnley had a rough start in an enormous mixed Open 18-29 wave. She was trapped in the middle of the boy/girl melee almost all the way to the first buoy.
We all had a bit of navigation practice as the wind stiffened a little into the day providing a small chop and an arc in the course markers to make things interesting.
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Written by Luke Whitmore
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Wednesday, 13 January 2010 19:16 |
Sunday saw the running of annual Sandringham Olympic Distance Triathlon. A Supersprint event which, has grown in popularity over the last few years. It now arguably boasts Victoria’s biggest and most competitive fields amongst age group and elite athletes. It is rightly now the Victorian Olympic Distance championship race (even though it has probably been the unofficial one for the last few years) and more importantly race 4 of the Eltham Triathlon club series.
We rose and sparrow’s for the 7am start on a perfect morning for racing. Mid twenties, blue skies and no wind. The atmosphere was great amongst the Eltham team with plenty of club stalwarts many a fresh faces. It was easy to spot the Eltham group with our bright colours and spunky flags! Our supporters stood out also thanks to cheer squad leader Naish Chapman and his Zinc exploits.
20 members raced the Olympic Distance, A couple of groups raced the Olympic team and several in the brooks tri and sprint races.
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Open Water on Surf Coast after Xmas |
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Written by Andrew Evans
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Tuesday, 29 December 2009 22:09 |
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December 27 and 28 were two beautiful summer days on the Surf Coast - warm breeze and flat seas. Even the water was warm for a change. Eltham Tri and Open Water members had a total of 23 entries in the Ripview Classic at Point Lonsdale and the Rock 2 Ramp event at Anglesea. A great time was had by members, friends and family. Congratulations to Kate on her two podium positions and to the Seilers - Ken and Josh - who also swam at Pt Leo on Boxing Day both completing three races in 3 days.
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Lorne Training Camp Dec 19 & 20 2009 |
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Written by Brett Smythe
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Monday, 21 December 2009 16:32 |
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It was this weekend past that a group of 18 avid ETOWC members made the trek down the picturesque Great Ocean Road – to the annual Mike Gowan Lorne training camp. It was promoted as bigger than the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca – and the weekend did not let us down in terms of laughter, funny moments & of course – some hard training thrown in as well. 
Friday saw the mob roll into the YHA Hostel & I have to say – one of the best & modern hostels you would ever find. Once we all found our bearings, settled into our bunk dormitory rooms & sorted out the sleeping arrangements, we decided to wander down through town & maybe stop in at the Lorne pub for a refreshing ‘nightcap’ ale. All was going to plan until our coach was told he was not allowed in (see highlights below). This we thought pretty much put an end to the night – so we headed on back to our rooms – when all of a sudden a black BMW rolled up beside our group, windows down, two blonde headed women sticking their head out, looking for a dorm key !! Supposedly Dee & Celeste were looking for a ‘trashy’ mag to read before sleeping, couldn’t find a shop open - so decided to do some laps as if they were in Chapel St Sth Yarra !! A few skid marks were noticed on the road the day after proving the truth in this matter … So we all went to bed – a bit anxious for the 7am start the following morning & what was in store for us – when the men’s dorm turned into the “ETOWC Symphony Orchestra”. This was only an encore performance as the Saturday night would prove to be better than anything Beetoven or Bach would ever create …
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Brighton Middle Beach – 12th December, 2009 |
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Written by Andrew Evans
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Saturday, 12 December 2009 23:01 |
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Choppy conditions and a stiff breeze set the scene on the morning of the Swim for Your Life Swim Classic at Brighton Middle Beach. Ten swimmers from Eltham Tri and Open Water turned out to join 286 others for the 1.2 km course while Darren Reynolds stepped up to the challenge and took on the 4.0km course along with 122 long course swimmers. Mike Gowan swimming for the last time as a bachelor was just 2 seconds off the top of the podium in his M30-39 category. Beanbag ever mindful whisked him away to his afternoon nuptials at the close of presentations. Congratulations to Darren on a heroic effort in choppy seas competing in the 4km event.
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Written by Luke Whitmore
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Thursday, 10 December 2009 12:57 |
On Tuesday the 1st of December I landed in Perth for Ironman Western Australia 2009. We loaded our rental cars and headed for a little coastal town on the bay of Geographe, affectionately known as ‘Busso’ amongst the triathlon fraternity. On arrival I was straight out on the bike course for my last hard session before Saturday’s race. The first thing I noticed a lot of work had been done on the roads. The bike course was now nearly 180km of hotmix. Our house consisting of George (Ironman virgin a.k.a Mr Degani) Ex Pro Cyclist Chris (Fronting up for an Ironman re-birth after 10 years out of the sport) and Ruth (Single Mum and Ironman addict ready for Ironman no.6). Also accompanying us was my Beautiful pregnant wife Tarryn and Corin, Ruths partner. We formed a good routine in the days leading up to the race attempting to stay on Melbourne time as to not interrupt our sleep pattern.
Race morning arrived and I was suitably nervous for my first Ironman as a pro. The swim start was calm and felt easy perhaps a little too easy as I missed the first pack. Our group settled into a good pace and I sat nicely on the feet of Matt Stephens and shoulder of Jason Shortis. 2.8km into the swim we discovered we had gone off course and had to alter path costing at least one minute and perhaps two. We exited the water in a disappointing time just under 54 minutes.
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Written by Andrew Evans
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Sunday, 22 November 2009 21:35 |
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In spite of a weekend of wind and rain leading to the cancellation of the swim leg, over 1000 competitors took to the field in Gatorade Race 1 at St Kilda on Sunday 22 November, including 14 entrants from Eltham Tri and Open Water Club. The weather let up just enough to provide an almost rain free race. Kate Murphy F30-34 and Cam Simon M35-39 both made the top of the podium in their age groups. Paul Attard, Simon Carey, Ryan Scannell and Nicole Blythe took placings in their Categories. It was very good to see a number of new members out racing and quite a few supporters that braved the rain to cheer us on. Our tent had a rough night and was much the worse for wear on race morning leaving our team masseur Andy Park looking for shelter in the neighbouring Yarra Valley Tri marquee. Great to have him along I'm sure Cam's pre-race massage was one factor speeding him on his way to victory.
Well done everyone and congratulations to all who supported this event in difficult conditions.
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Page 3 of 4 |
Race Reports 
