Ironman tough
Triathletes reach milestones early in the season

Competitor: LCpl Daniel McNab was part of the Defence contingent in the Forster Ironman event. Photo by Cpl Daniel Gregory

By WO2 Greg Young

FORTY-TWO Defence triathletes lined up to compete in the Forster Ironman’s 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run in NSW on April 3.

Army featured heavily in the team with 21 competitors, with the rest made up from the Air Force, Navy, Defence Public Servants and even a USAF member on exchange.

Flt-Lt Julian Weller set out to prove, after a long year of hard training, that his swim leg was going to be his best ever and climbed out of the pool well placed in 39th position overall and third in his age group with a time of 0:51:24.

Next out of the water was Pte Wayne Eliot at 0:52:52 in 72nd position. The first female was CPO Louise McNulty in a time of 0:59:27.

Flt-Lt Richard Gardiner started to exert his Ironman experience on the cycle leg and slowly took control of the race. He recorded the fastest ADO cycle time of 5:10:22, which was 147th overall and 26th in his age group.

In the women’s race, CPO Louise McNulty was still leading with a bike time of 5:33:55, which was first in her age group and she still held on to a slender lead over Ms Jodie Barker who recorded a time of 5:40:45, which was sixth in her age group.

Going into the run leg, Flt-Lt Weller was holding out the fast finishing Flt-Lt Gardiner and LS Brad Hetharia, and all three were set to battle it out to the end.

As the kilometres ticked by, Flt-Lt Gardiner produced one of the most powerful run legs ever seen by an ADO triathlete, with a recorded time of 3:02:21. It was fourth fastest marathon overall.

Flt-Lt Gardiner’s overall time of 9:19:43 was 27th overall and third in his age group.

Second over the line for Defence was Sgt Martin Boyd who recorded 3:47:02 and a time of 9:57:49, 147th overall and 22nd in his age group.
Third was Capt Darren Moore in a time of 10:01:51, 157th overall and 52nd in his age group.

In the women’s race, Miss Barker took the lead from CPO McNulty with a powerful run leg and crossed the line with a run time of 3:35:49, first in her age group and 97th overall.

Her time of 10:21:02 regained her the ADO race record she lost to Capt Christina Van Der Hulst after an epic struggle last year.

CPO McNulty recorded a run time of 4:12:55 which was seventh in her age group, and her total time of 10:46:17 placed her third in her age group and second ADO female.

WO2 Shelley Foster was third across the line in a time of 11:04:59, which was fifth in her age group.

For further information on the sport of triathlon, contact WO2 Greg Young ( (07) 3882 3891 or e-mail dandgyoung@optusnet.com.au