GOING THE DISTANCE

Squadron Leader Dick Haines pushes himself on the bike leg on the way to winning the 35-39 years section of the long course race.

Winner of the ADF male section of the RAAF Williamtown Triathlon, Warrant Officer Terry Withers, puts his head down on the bike leg.

RAAF Williamtown Triathlon competitors hit the water for the swim leg at Soldiers Point.

Photos by LAC Clint Siggins and LACW Veronica McKenna

By SQNLDR David Coysh

AIR Force competitors dominated the long course event at the New South Wales Services Triathlon Championships at RAAF Base Williamtown on March 21.

The event, endorsed by the Australian Services Triathlon Association (ASTA) and conducted as the RAAF Williamtown Triathlon, attracted a quality field.

The long course event, consisting of a 1km swim, 30km cycle and 10km run, was conducted in conjunction with a short course race over half the distance.

In an all Air Force affair, Warrant Officer Terry Withers from RAAF Williamtown won the ADF male section, while Flight Lieutenant Tina Willmett from No. 22 Squadron (Richmond) took out the ADF female section for the second year in succession.

Corporal Sean Bell from No. 77 Squadron made it a successful day for the RAAF Williamtown men, finishing third.

The first team home was from Tactical Fighter Systems Program Office in the 105 years-plus category, followed by “76 Blackhanders”, also from RAAF Williamtown.

In other solid results, Williamtown’s Sergeant Peter Macklin finished first in the 20-24 years category, Squadron Leader Dick Haines won the 35-39 years race and Sergeant John Caples crossed the line first in the 40-44 years category.

The short course was dominated by the Army with Private Daniel Caraghin from 41 RNSWR winning the ADF men’s and Captain Gaye-Maree Schurmann from the School of Military Engineering, Moorebank winning the ADF women’s.

Flight Lieutenant Jerry Parkin, from RAAF Williamtown, placed third in the men’s race, Flight Lieutenant Simon Resch finished first in the 35-39 years short course and Sergeant Steve Westcott was the first 40-44 years entrant across the line.

“Tribute” won the all male team short course category, “HMAS Watson” the mixed category and “Tristars”, from RAAF Williamtown, the all female category.

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