Champions again at 4RAR(Cdo)

LIVERPOOL Military Area (LMA) soldiers competed in the annual area triathlon last month. The event aimed to encourage unit rivalry as the last major sporting event of the year and to determine the champion triathlon unit within the LMA.

The course consisted of a 3.2km run, 200m swim, 15km ride, 200m swim and finished with a 3km run entering the Holsworthy Pool complex.

Team runners set the pace while individual competitors set off at a more sensible pace. First runner into transition was Sgt Rob Coombe, 4RAR(Cdo). Sgt Mark Anderson, 1HSB, was the first individual runner into transition closely followed by Ptes Brett Whitton and Simon Holland, 4RAR(Cdo).

The swim leg showed Sgt Anderson’s class where he pulled away from the individual field to set out on the bike with comfortable lead. Meanwhile back in the field, the pool was now filled with soldiers jostling for position. Capt ChristinaVanderhulst, DNSDC, was also a clear leader in the female field showing no weakness in any discipline. With the individuals holding a lead that could only be breached by a puncture, more interest was building towards the champion unit.

Heading into the last run leg, only one team headed Sgt Anderson as he finished in first place in a time of 53.03min, only three minutes behind the first team. Second place from 4RAR(Cdo) was Pte Holland in 54.11min with third going to Pte Kirley in 57.37. Capt Vanderhulst took out first female followed by Pte Bernoth, 1HSB, and LCpl Rose,17 Const Sqn.

Champion unit was closely contested but taken out by 4RAR(Cdo). In all, 162 soldiers competed in the successful event.