The pace race
Volume 11, No. 57, November 30, 2006
By Barry Rollings

Hot heels: WO2 Shelley Foster finished second in the women’s Olympic distance event after a tough fight with Capt Del Madge. Photo by Cpl Mike Kiker

ARMY women dominated their events at the recent Australian Defence Sports Triathlon Association’s (ADSTA’s) inaugural two-day national championship carnival in Sydney.

Capt Del Madge, the event OIC and ADSTA vice-president, and WO2 Shelley Foster shared first and second places in both the feature event, the Olympic distance triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km ride and 10km run), and the aquathon (run-swim-run) at Penrith Regatta Centre on November 8-9.

The women’s Olympic distance field may have been down on numbers, but this did not prevent a fierce tussle between Capt Madge and WO2 Foster.

The longer, slower distances posted in training by Capt Madge and Christina Thorne meant that WO2 Foster was the red-hot favourite.

A strong swim-bike combination gave Capt Madge the lead into the run, an area she is traditionally weak in.

WO2 Foster knew this well and set out to run her down, but she had her work cut out for her, facing a deficit of just over 3min at the end of the bike ride.

With Capt Madge posting a PB for her 10km triathlon run, WO2 Foster fell short by 1min and 33sec.

Capt Madge’s aggregate was 2hr 25min and 31sec (26.06 swim, 1.12.26 bike ride, 46.59 run) to W02 Foster’s 2hr 27min and 4sec (27.44 swim, 1.13.53 bike ride, 45.27 run), with Ms Thorne third in 2hr 31min and 21sec (29.09 swim, 1.16.59 bike ride, 45.13 run).

It was a turnaround from the aquathon for Capt Madge, who exchanged the lead several times throughout with WO2 Foster, who just split the hairs to claim victory across the line.

In the men’s Olympic distance triathlon strong-running Flt-Lt Richard Gardiner won the aquathon on day one, but on day two he had to be content with second in the main event, the Olympic distance triathlon, a mere 32 sec behind Cpl Geoff Hanckel, a PTI from RAAF Wagga.

Cpl Hanckel’s total time was 2hr 2min and 31sec while Flt-Lt Gardiner crossed the line in 2hr 3min and 3sec. WO2 Gavin Wickham, of Latchford Barracks, was third in 2hr 8min and 15sec (23min 35sec swim, 1hr 3min and 10sec bike, and 41min and 30sec run).

He was in the mix with a strong swim-ride combination, but the sheer running speed of Flt-Lt Gardiner relegated him to third overall. In the aquathon (run-swim-run) Flt-Lt Gardiner’s strong run helped him just hold off Pte Wayne Elliot and his outstanding swim in the men’s event to claim the title.

The sprint distance triathlon (750m swim, 20km ride, 5km run), traditionally an event for those wishing to race the triathlon without the longer distances, makes it perfect for the novice who is dabbling with the sport.

Flt-Lt Ewan Stewart (RAAF Richmond) ran a hard race and was a clear winner on the day in 1hr 7min and 33sec in the men’s race. AB Trisha Muller was too strong for AB Sam Morley and was a clear winner in the women’s in 1hr and 17min.

Full results can be viewed at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/RaafWeb/sites/ADSTA/.