The last hill of the 3km run required a little moral support at the Liverpool Military Area Triathlon Championships held at Holsworthy Barracks. Photo by Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper

Triathlon thrill

By Andrew Stackpool
WO2 MARK Anderson, 1HSB, achieved a remarkable first on November 13 when he beat 120 military athletes in the 2003 Liverpool Military Area Triathlon Championships.

Anderson, who is the WO PTI for the Sydney area, was also first past the post in the 2002 event.

His win was even more remarkable as he overcame a dose of flu to achieve his victory.

He completed the event in an impressive 50min 15sec.

Close behind in second was Sgt Mark Davis SME in 50min 36 sec, while NCOs swept the pack with Sgt Matthew Jeffery IIR third across the line in 52min 29sec.

1HSB were winners of the team event.

Athletes from LMA and other areas competed the gruelling 21.4km event, which was conducted as an ASTA/ADF Running and Athletics Association event.

The event comprised a 3km run, 200m swim, 15km cycle, 200m swim and 3km run to the finishing line.

All athletes completed the course on a cool but overcast and blustery day.

The triathlon is established to provide a mental and physical challenge for the participants, promote unit and inter-unit esprit de corps and give all units' members, the opportunity to compete against each other regardless of personal fitness level and age in a fun environment. They could do so either on an individual or team level.

Serving personnel and defence civilians from the area are eligible to participate. WO2 Anderson paid tribute to past champions such as Sgt Gavin Wickham, ALTC.

"To take the triathlon you must be strong in all three sports - running, swimming and cycling," he said.

"Also, you must be very quick in the transitions [event changeovers]; there are five in this triathlon."

To prove you can't keep a good man down, WO2 Anderson backed up the day after the triathlon to prepare for a civilian Iron Man event that was held at Forster, NSW on November 15.

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