Posted: December 10, 2007

Triathlon: It’s Back and it’s BIG

The Canberra City Half Ironman Triathlon returns to Canberra Round Six, Snap Australian Half Ironman Triathlon Series Australia’s triathletes have waited two years for the return of the Canberra City Half Ironman, and the event that puts the ‘C’ in Challenge has returned to the parks, roads and ACT countryside for its seventh annual edition on December 16th. And joining the Aussie contingent this year are competitors from no less than eight international countries coming back after first experiencing the event as the World Championships in 2006. Organisers have already faced some obstacles in getting the race back on line with the closure of Lake Burley Griffin impacting entries. However, with final field numbers numbering just over 700 participants, the 2007 edition of the race that’s twice been Australia’s biggest is a little more modest in its return to form; but with an electric course, carved from the World LD Championship course of 2006 that attracted 670 of the world’s best athletes to Canberra it’s a proven challenge for all who compete on it. This time there’s more Australian athletes, and a total field led by the who’s who of Half Ironman racing in Australia. Round 6 of the annual Snap Half Ironman Triathlon series, the Canberra women’s category has attracted both the series points leader, Lisa Marangon and the current runner up, Amelia Pearson, with wild card, Ironman Japan winner and no stranger to winning in Australia, Sarah Fien, originally from Canberra choosing to make her comeback to the sport here after series injury when knocked from her bike many months ago. Joining the Aussie trio is German pro, Marion Pyrlik, keen to make her mark on the Australian triathlon scene. Behind the pro entry is one of the strongest women’s fields ever for this event. If the front end of the women’s race looks set for a lively sort out, the men’s field is adorned with stars and stars in the making. Points leader NSW’s Peter Loveridge and four of the top five point scorers, Peter Schokman (NSW) , Tim Berkel (NSW) , and John Cornish (TAS) are all entered. Lined up against the major point scorers are a host of hopefuls, including Dave Mathews , Bevan Leach, Ryan O’Neill Boyd Conrick, Chris Waterhouse, Ben Howard, Klayten Smith and Paul Wiedesehn, all from NSW. From Queensland, fast man David Dellow is joined by Brett McKeown and Ryan Milton joins them from South Australia. There’s some new faces also, Victoria’s Jamie Rhodes and the biggest upset could come from Josh Rix... with potential danger man, and defending 2005 champion, Leon Griffin confirmed out of the race, with injury while Aaron Farlow was the top Australian home in September’s Aviva Ironman 70.3 in Singapore and looking to go even stronger in Canberra. Ironically not one of the top ten women from 2005 will start the event, with two retired , two injured and in the men’s 2005 top ten, only the names of Klayten Smith (third), and Tim Berkel (ninth) remain... However, if the Australian contingent isn’t strong enough. The 2006 Danish LD champion, Oyvind Johannessen and the 2004 Hungarian U23 Half Ironman champ, Balazs Csoke have also entered the race, making for fast times in the December 16th event... There are 24 teams also racing alongside the individual entries. The event is also a validation race for entry to the Panthers’ Ironman Australia Triathlon in April 2008. The Canberra Half Ironman is also the penultimate event in the national Snap series, with the ‘grand finale’ in Geelong, the Australia Ironman 70.3, to come in February. The Canberra City Half Ironman is supported by Australian Capital Tourism, Enervit, Aqua Shop/Blue Seventy, Tri Travel, Rydges, Aeromax, Erox, Conti Oceania, Tri Shave and TriathlonPhotos.com. Organisers of the event, X-Tri Australia are looking for additional volunteers for the December 16th event. If you’d like to get up close and personal to the stars of Half Ironman racing in Australia this is your moment. Volunteers can ‘sign on’ at www.canberrahalf.com. Volunteers to join with Canberra tri clubs, Bilbys, Vikings and FIT plus the SES, and many scout troops from around the territory. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest