Tri-ActiV8 secures Top Spot at Airlie Beach Festival
Tri-ActiV8 Members win big at Airlie Beach Tri Festival
This is one for the Tri-ActiV8 history books. On 23 and24 April, Airlie Beach hosted the Scody Australia North Queensland Club Championships with $5000 up for grabs for the top clubs. Triathlon Queensland President Cara Turnley presented 1st Place to our very own Tri-ActiV8, 2nd place to Townsville Triathlon Club and 3rd place to Mackay Triathlon Club.
What an epic event it was. The Airlie Beach Triathlon Club turned it on with safe and well facilitated events across the weekend!
The festival was kick started on Saturday with an ocean swim, junior triathlon and fireworks. Spirits were high and smiles were wide. Sunday delivered the Standard, Sprint and Enticer distances. There was certainly something for everyone!
The Tri-ActiV8 tribe delivered amazing results in what were considered some very tough conditions.
Tri-ActiV8 Race Review:
Saturday
Ocean Swim – great participation and times posted by the tribe. Intermittent wind and rain did not dampen the start of the Airlie Beach Festival with the ocean swim. Competitors reported an unexpected chop at the back of the bay with a slight current as the tide was incoming.
Junior 350m Swim: Congrats to Seb taking out first place (leading from the start) and Billy smashing out the course
750m Swim Course: Murray took one for the team for the 750m ocean swim.
1500m Swim Course: Cristian, Demi, Sammy, Shuttle & Tash tested the waters for the 1500m ocean swim. The swim paid dividends for Demi to take on the Olympic Distance on Sunday reporting that she was well prepared for race day having experienced the highs and lows of the swim the day before.
Junior Triathlon: A traditional Saturday afternoon activity is the kids triathlon, what a fantastic event, Airlie put it on for all ages! It was great to see our junior ITU suits out there. A huge congratulations to all of our kids taking on the course: Kaitlyn, Jaden, Leon, Amelia, Hugo, Mindy, Georgina & Theo! All of the kids swimming, riding and running their little hearts out with determination and HUGE smiles, so inspiring for everyone.
Sunday
Anxiously watching the weather forecast for the week, the conditions were a lot more pleasurable than first expected. It rained most of the night, and gusts of wind rattled doors and windows, anxiety was high! Nervous but not perturbed, the Tri-ActiV8 tribe turned up in force and with plenty of good vibes ready to take on one of the best festivals in the Whitsundays (Mackay Tri Festival is equal)!
Standard Distance Triathlon
63 Competitors in the Standard Distance Triathlon – 1500m Swim / 40km Bike / 10km Run. 2 x 750m laps in the bay, 4 x loops of the Airlie Hills (out and back) and 4 x loops of the run (with a kicker). A tough and relentless course was reported by everyone. The weather finally turned bringing drier conditions and less wind.
Well represented with 30% of the field in Tri-ActiV8’s V8 Tri Suits, we boasted some of the fastest times with Cristian taking out first Age Grouper and partner (Fiancé) Demi taking out first overall female and taking home a $1000 cheque. Sammy lined up for a third female overall and boasted a massive $250 cheque.
One of the biggest learnings for the weekend – more practice in wetsuits is required before race day, however we could never have predicted a late stinger season and a recommendation for the wetsuit (but it is good to have a take-away).
Our traditional Choccie Milk Runs and Ocean Swims will be kicking off again next week to prepare for Cairns 70.3 and Ironman.
Tri-ActiV8 Individual and Team Results:
Cristian: 20-29yrs: 02:20:47 (4th Place Overall and 1st Place AG)
Jared: 14-19yrs: 02:40:21 (1st Place AG)
Demi: Open: 02:41:32 (1st Female Open)
Mick: 40-49yrs: 02:45:25
Sammy: Open: 02:56:01 (3rd Female Open)
Mini: 50-59yrs: 03:00:29 (1st Place AG)
Jane: 30-39yrs: 03:05:24 (1st Place AG)
Team Chappell: Mixed Family Relay: 03:06:48
Team M: Mixed Family Relay: 03:15:20 (3rd Mixed Team)
Shuttle: 40-49yrs: 03:09:37: (2nd Place AG)
Team Summer-Daze: Mixed Relay: 02:54:45 (1st Mixed Team)
Nathan: 30-39yrs: 03:19:03
Deanne: 30-39yrs: 04:01:48
Amelia: 40-49yrs: 03:50:08
Murray: 50-59yrs: 03:19:28 (3rd Place AG)
Team Triactiv8: Female Relay: 03:20:05 (1st Female Team)
Pinno: 40-49yrs: 03:22:34
Jose: 50-59yrs: 03:26:32 (2nd Place AG)
June: 50-59yrs: 03:29:23 (3rd Place AG)
Sprint Distance Triathlon
39 Competitors turned up in force for the Sprint Distance Triathlon. Completing a 750m Swim / 20km Bike / 5km Run. The hills provided a challenge in the ride, however didn’t slow our athletes down.
Tri-ActiV8 Individual and Team Results:
Cameron: Open: 01:10:12 (1st Open Male)
Angus: 14-19yrs: 01:31:44 (2nd Place AG)
Lucy: 30-39yrs: 01:41:21 (3rd Place AG) – last hit out before Port Mac
Kelly: 30-39yrs: 01:53:26
Nicole: 30-39yrs: 01:56:45
Sacha: 40-49yrs: 01:56:45 (2nd Place AG)
Melissa: 40-49yrs: 02:00:07
Mengy: 60+: 02:00:43 (2nd Place AG)
Enticer
24 Competitors in the Enticer Distance was well represented with just under 40% of the field being represented by Tri-ActiV8 Juniors, from Whitsunday Anglican and training. It was so great to see these athletes take on their first open water swim race or first ever race, they were fearless!
Tri-ActiV8 Individual and Team Results:
Caleb: 12-19yrs: 00:52:34 (3rd Place AG)
Talia: 12-19yrs: 00:54:16
Sam: 12-19yrs: 00:54:16
Seb: 12-19yrs: 00:58:06
Jess: 20-29yrs: 01:09:01 (2nd Place AG)
Tina: 40-49yrs: 01:10:35 (1st Place AG)
Kayla: 12-19yrs: 01:10:52
Hayley: 12-19yrs: 01:12:48
Lisa: 60+: 01:18:19 (2nd Place AG)
Overall, we couldn’t be happier with the weekend’s events and the performance of our athletes and support crew. Congratulations to Airlie Beach Triathlon Club & Event Crew for being super amazing out there, to all of the Clubs who travelled for the event and most of all our Tribe, Athletes and Supporters!