Tindal triathlon takes toughest to the limit

INDIVIDUALS and teams stretched fitness levels to breaking point at the end of last year as RAAF Base Tindal held its annual Base Triathlon.

More than 80 competitors from Tindal’s two main squadrons – No. 75 Squadron and No. 322 Combat Support Squadron, which included No. 44 Wing – contested the event.

The fast, and often spectacular, race format (1km run, 200m swim, 5km ride, 200m swim, 5km ride and 1km run) produced some close and exciting racing.

In the teams event, the PTIs led early but by mid-race the 44WG team had assumed control.

It went on to win comfortably ahead of 75SQN and Health Services Flight. A fading PTI outfit, meantime, finished fourth.

Leading Aircraftman Martin Lewis and Leading Aircraftman Matt Uptin fought out the open men’s race.

The pair virtually raced shoulder-to-shoulder until LAC Lewis put some space between he and his rivals in the second bike leg, eventually winning ahead of LAC Uptin and Squadron Leader Geoffrey Penn.

The closest race of the day turned out to be the open women’s event, which featured an intriguing battle between Leading Aircraftwoman Michelle Cronin and Corporal Nicky Sundstrom.

The pair took it in turns to lead during each leg of the race, before LACW Cronin put the foot down in the final run leg to pip CPL Sundstrom on the line. Sergeant Sharon Butt finished in third place.

In the over 40s men’s race, Corporal Gavin Stitt showed his class from the outset to finish first over Leading Aircraftman Tony Divona and Group Captain Corey Metz.

322CSS easily won the overall points score, beating the 75SQN Magpies 1640 to 712.

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