Following is a wrap-up of the inaugural ADF Combined Sports Championships held in Sydney from 7-11 March.

Time Trial Championship

The Frontline Defence Services Time Trial Championship was conducted on March 7 at RAAF Base Richmond on a 27km course around the airfield.

The field of 39 represented both genders and all three services, with first person out of the starting gate being MAJ Rudd from RTC (SQ), setting a blistering pace in 42 mins 09secs, with an average of 37.9kph.

He held the leading position until competitor number 28, PTE Simpson from 4FD Regt in Townsville, crossed the line in 39.17 at an average of 40.7kph.

SGT Davis from ALTC went out hard to catch him, but failed in his attempt by 54 seconds to claim second position in a time of 40:11. Third went to AB Gowty from HMAS Harman in 40.50.

In the female category, WO2 Foster from APA-Brisbane won with a time of 47:49 with an average of 33.3 kph.

The efforts of LAC Clarke from RAAF Base Williamtown did not escape the eyes of all competitors, after he got lost and almost needed a search party. However, he got himself back on track and completed the course in 1.01.38 and for his efforts was awarded the encouragement award of a complete ASTA cycle uniform valued at $145.

Criterium

Also on the same day, the DEFCREDIT Criterium Championship consisted of race time of 35 mins plus two laps on a course 900m in length, with all lapped riders having to pull out.

By the 8min mark riders were being passed and after that they were pulled out of the race at regular intervals.

After 25 minutes, only 10 remained until the bell sounded to signify two laps to go, with the leading five riders upping the speed even further. Rounding the last turn, PLTOFF Newton positioned himself perfectly at the front to put on a sprint victory for the second time that day.

Second place again went to AB Gowty, while third went to PTE Simpson.

The standout performers over the three events were PLTOFF Newton (RAAF), AB Gowty (Navy) and PTE Simpson (Army).

10km Athletics Road Race

Holsworthy Barracks again hosted the Tenix 10km Road Race Championship on 9 March, consisting of four laps of a challenging 2.5km course.

In near perfect conditions, 56 runners turned up the speed, with CAPT Laws from 1 HSB using his excellent first-hand knowledge of the course to turn on the pressure and was never headed, coming across the line in a very fast 32.20 to win both the overall champion and the men's open section.

Second was CPL Skate from 4CSSB in 32.46, while third was SGT Combe from 4RAR in 33.18.

First in the men's junior division was SIG Harding from DSD in 40.27; first in the men's veterans was FSGT Matulick from DPO-AF in 34.24 and first in the men's masters was MAJ Rudd from RTC (SQ) in 37.08.

In the women's race, PTE Rogash from JHSA-WA justified her long flight from Perth to be first across the line and first in the women's open in 39.01. Second across the line and first in the women's veterans was WO2 Foster from APA-Brisbane in 40.58, while third across the line and second in the women's open was PTE Greenland from 4/3 RNSWR in 43.10. First in the women's masters was Ms Nelson in 51.44.

The champion unit went to 4RAR and the inter-Service championship was awarded to Army, with RAAF in second.

Short Course Triathlon

The Tenix Short Course Triathlon Championship at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith, consisted of a 500m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run and attracted a total of 69 competitors.

Combined Sports Championships competitors prepare for the cycle-leg of the triathlon. (Photograph by Bill Cunneen.)

The team from 4RAR, headed by LCPL Folkard, posted a super fast time of 7:50 giving his team a 30-second lead.

After just over 15 minutes, competitors quickly made their way to the transition area and on to the 20km cycle leg. Going into the run leg, only seconds separated the two lead teams and individuals, leaving the strongest runner to take control.

The final results were: first male LS Hetharia from HMAS Creswell in 1:02:03; first female WO2 Foster from APA Brisbane in 1:06:58; second male PTE Simpson from 4 Field Regt in 1:03:05; second female was Ms Lochrin from 3 CSH in 1:17:46; third male Mr Gill from JALO in 1:04:49; third female CAPT Brown from SME in 1:32:53.

The first all-male team went to 'McDonald's Muscle' from DNSDC in 1:05:10. The first all-female team to the 'Dragons' from Randwick Dental Unit in 1:17:08.

The first mixed team went to the 'Last Minutes' (they found a swimmer 10 minutes before the race) from Holsworthy in 1:01:12, also the fastest time of the day.

Long Course Triathlon

The Uncle Toby's Long Course Triathlon Championship saw a 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run with a very strong field 57.

LTCOL Morton from NLG again showed he was the best long distance swimmer in the ADF by coming out of the water in 19:37. The first female was AB Ryan from HMAS Kuttabul in 24:10.

The lead pack of three out of the swim was LTCOL Morton, Luke Grattan from DMO Canberra and SGT Anderson from 1HSB.

Grattan held a 1.02min lead over SGT Davis from ALTC going into the 40km cycle leg, however SGT Davis recorded the fastest bike leg to be only 11sec behind going into the 10km run.

However, Grattan, who won the event last year, recorded the fastest run time of 34min to win in a total time of 1:57:54. SGT Davis held off a fast-finishing SGT Wickham to secure second position in 2:01:28.

In the female event, SGT McDermott from 2 Int Coy moved into the lead with a powerful ride in 1:12:21 and held a 4min lead going into the final run leg. She went on to claim victory in 2:22:13, with second to AB Ryan in 2:24:29 and third to PTE Rogash from JHSA-WA in 2:28:47, after she recorded the fastest female run time in 40:30.

e first team age greater than 105 to 1 CDO Regt in 2:24:23.

The encouragement award went to CAPT Hopkins who finished the race in 3:20:47 and at the age of 59 showed us all that age is no barrier to competing in a sport you love.

The inter-Service champion over the two triathlon events was Army with 469 points, RAAF with 182 points, Navy with 61 points and Defence Civilians with 55 points.

Endurance Championship

Eleven individuals put their bodies on the line in the ADI Endurance Championship. To be eligible, they were required to compete in every event except the short course triathlon with times for each event added. The competitor with the lowest aggregate time would be crowned ADF Endurance Champion.

In the time trial, MAJ Rudd held a four-second advantage over SGT Wickham from 1HSB. The 60km road race saw SGT Wickham gain the lead with a time of 1:39:16 with MAJ Rudd still holding second position.

The criterium saw MAJ Rudd hold off SGT Wickham to pull back 15 seconds, however it was not enough to regain the lead. By the fourth event, the 10km road race, SGT Wickham dominated by running a time of 35:47, with only FLTLT Gardiner able to run faster in the endurance champion field.

SGT Wickham, with a combined time of 2:57:31, now had a 4:03 lead over MAJ Rudd going into the last event, the long course triathlon, but he quickly put the title out of reach by placing third overall in that event. His overall time for all five events was 4:59:14, MAJ Rudd finished second in 5:12:54, and third went to FSGT Bland in 5:33:40,

Only seven of the original 11 competitors finished all five events, a true refection of how hard the endurance championship was to finish.

By WO2 Greg Young