Green and Gold Proves Perfect Fit
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Wednesday, July 27 Green and gold proves perfect fit Grant Edwards [email protected] PROUDLY wearing the green and gold, triathletes Ash Hunter and Robbie Andrews are pumped for the world championship on home soil. The duo is among a strong Sunshine Coast age group contingent who will toe the start line at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, which will be hosted by Mooloolaba on September 4. For Ash, the rookie is primed to do her best against the sport’s best. She’s a newcomer to triathlon, after being inspired on the sidelines of the 2014 Ironman World Championship when watching partner Damien Collins race. She had previously competed in powerlifting, where she competed at the GPC national titles and finished second in the under-60kg category. “I remember walking around the expo in Kona when Damo said to me, ‘Ash, what are you doing? Why are you buying a triathlon suit when you’ve never raced a triathlon before?’ I paused for a second and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 News Countdown to worlds begins FROM PAGE 1 check out the hinterland loops of said, ‘Yeah... Well, I’m about to’,” the bike course. It’s been great to she said. be able to see what all the fuss is That led to an enticer distance about with the climb on the Upper event, before completing Rosemount Rd. It’s challenging Mooloolaba Olympic distance in but great to know I can 2015 and her first 70.3 later that confidently do it. year. After finishing sixth in the Having qualified in the 50-54 18-24 age group, she decided to age group after a strong showing combine a trip to her her uncle in at Ballarat last year, Robbie is the Philippines and also race preparing for his first 70.3 world 70.3 Subic Bay. event having previously “I placed first in the 25-29 AG competed in Kona. gaining my spot for worlds and Robbie successfully completed with the small women’s field I Cairns Ironman last month and managed to place top 10 in the has eased back into training women overall in a time of ahead of September. 4:59:15.I was super excited,” Ash “The 70.3 worlds had not been said. on my radar before but having a “I’ve chosen to do supply race like this in your backyard teaching this term for work so I was extra motivation to qualify,” can focus on training. I’ll be he said. training up to 18-20 hours per “I have high expectations. I week leading up to worlds. With always race as hard as I can, the each day, the quality of my result will be what it will be but I training will keep improving. I’m will not die wondering. looking forward to the sting! “Mooloolaba is a fantastic “My bike preparation has been place for a race, it is a real going well, I’ve enjoyed the destination race, I think that’s why transition of training to power on it has been very hard to qualify, the bike. I haven’t had an ideal “I’m happy with the course.I run preparation due to a calf think they have done a great job injury. Longevity is more in changing the bike course. It will Robbie Andrews and Ash Hunter in their 17 Hours kits ahead of the important than short-term goals definitely make it harder but it is Ironman 70.3 World Championship. PHOTO: GREG MILLER so it’s great to have it feeling meant to be hard it is a world good again after three months of championship race.” with a lot of other race specific courtesy of Wayne Metcalfe from building it back up. My swimming Robbie said he would maintain training stuff, it’s not often you get 17 Hours. While the brand is slowly improving since I’ve training similar to that of an to do a session in the ocean with produced a tribal kit last year, joined T:Zero Multisport pool and Ironman, about 12-15 hours a a coach on a board. Wayne decided to design a open water squad sessions.” week. “On the bike I’m getting four specific Australian suit for 2016. Ash suffered a torn calf this “With the swim I get two pool sessions adding up to about “We put a lot of thought into our year, but is attacking the next six sessions and two open water,” seven hours and five run design,” he said. weeks with great anticipation. Robbie said. “The Friday morning sessions a week. I’m still in Wayne also said they threw in “I’m so excited to be racing on open water with Scotty Farrell discussions with Scotty about the a bit of indigenous artwork into my home turf. The support out on from T- Zero is the best session of next six weeks but I’m sure he the design. the race course and off it will be the week. We get to swim in the will have me primed to race hard.” “I think it is a great-looking kit.” phenomenal,” she said ocean and do drills, practice Robbie and Ash have just About 20 kits are expected to “I’ve enjoyed being able to swim starts and also drafting, taken delivery of new race kits be on course at Mooloolaba. FITNESS & COMMUTER Youcan’tbt buyuy happinesshappines butb t yoyoucu canan buyb a bikebike BIKE SALE SAVE UP TO 20% ON FLOOR STOCK UNTIL SOLDOUT 6256914ao 2VentureDrive, NNoosaville.Ph: 5455 6655 | www.venturecycles.com.au Page 2. Sunshine Coast Multisport Mecca News Athletes lovin’ Mooloolaba WHO’S COMING United States .......................647 United Kingdom....................169 Germany................................165 Brazil ......................................110 Canada..................................109 France...................................105 New Zealand.........................102 South Africa...........................88 Japan.....................................65 Mexico....................................62 Argentina ...............................62 Switzerland............................53 Italy.........................................48 Poland .....................................41 Korea......................................39 Spain ......................................37 Chile .......................................34 Denmark................................34 Austria....................................29 All eyes will be on Mooloolaba for the world champs on September 4. PHOTO: CHE CHAPMAN Turkey.....................................28 Hong Kong .............................25 Grant Edwards taken off for athletes worldwide,” “If you get it right you can Belgium..................................25 [email protected] Ironman Oceania managing actually have a growth off the top Venezuela................................21 ALURRING beach images and the director David Beeche said. of a world champs,” David said. Ireland....................................20 chance to extend the northern “It’s the first time it has been this “We’ll be working hard likewise Netherlands ............................19 hemisphere summer have helped end of the world. Historically it around the country and hopefully Ecuador ...................................16 propel the Ironman 70.3 World started in the US, and that is taking advantage of the additional Norway....................................16 Championship to new heights. where the heart of it is. But with awareness from the worlds. Singapore................................15 With this year’s event to be those numbers from Germany, UK “The world championship is as Sweden....................................15 staged at Mooloolaba on and France, it is really starting to much about competing as it is Czech Republic.......................15 September 4, the first time it has take hold there as well. meeting people from around the Taiwan .....................................15 been staged in the southern “As much as they compete for a world. They come for the Russian Federation.................14 hemisphere, athletes from the place and be in a world challenge but they will leave with Colombia.................................12 United States and Europe lead a championship event, there are lots friends they have met from all Panama ...................................12 massive international contingent. of people that are coming corners of the globe.” Peru ..........................................11 During the past year there have because they will have a great About 5000 visitors are Philippines ..............................10 been more than 90 qualifying holiday at the same time.” expected to descend on events which saw more than Qualification for athletes has Mooloolaba for the event. 200,000 athletes fight for a entry been increasingly difficult this year, Sunshine Coast competitors: Karl Alice Latham (Mooloolaba), Paul Andre (Woodford), Robbie Andrews McDonald (Mountain Creek), Malin slot. About 3000 athletes ranging which David puts down to the (Maroochydore), Bonnie Atherton Olsson (Wurtulla), Michele Purvis in ages from 18 to 75-plus will destination. (Mooloolaba), Alison Caiafa (Sunshine (Mooloolaba), Sean Richardson represent more than 70 countries He said there was always the Beach), David Chick (Yaroomba), (Mountain Creek, now Brisbane), Anthony Rule (Alexandra Headland), – including 800 Australians. risk of a “hangover year” post Damien Collins (Beerwah), Paul Davies (Peregian Springs), Hazel Edmond Caroline Steffen (Mooloolaba), Kaz The field will be made up of world champs, there are plans (Tewantin), Scott Farrell (Palmwoods), Taverner (Parrearra), Catherine Thiele 34% women and 66% men. afoot to maintain the popularity of Nathan Fitzakerley (Parrearra), (Mooloolaba), Richard Thompson (Kiels Mountain), Jacqui Waters (Mt “It’s amazing...it shows the 70.3 racing Down Under, with all Jonathan Hamwood (Mons), Meredith Hill (Marcus Beach), Jaimielle Jacobs Coolum), Kacey Willoughby strength of the 70.3 brand. The races forecast to continue in the (Noosa Heads), Pete Jacobs (Noosa (Mooloolaba), Matthew Wolstencroft world championship has really near future. Heads), Nicholas Kastelein (Noosa), (Wurtulla). Sunshine Coast Multisport Mecca Page 3 News Frodo had time for rookie mate Grant Edwards exchanged a few short words. The [email protected] next time we passed each other, I had faded to third with 14km to go WHILE on track to smash the full and all I could hear was him triathlon distance world record, shouting ‘stay strong, stay strong’. Jan Frodeno still had time for his “Although he has his own goals mates.