TRI-UMPH
Geoff set to take on world

By Andrew Stackpool

Corporal Geoff Hanckel put the pedals to the metal in the cycle leg of the long course competition. CPL Hanckel was named the ADF’s endurance Champion 2004 after winning the long course and placing highly in the 10km run, 60km cycle and criterium. Photo by CPL Matt Moore

Former Olympian Lisa Curry-Kenny presents Captain Jane McDermott, winner of the long course women’s open, and CPL Hanckel, winner long course men’s open with their trophies. Photo by Bill Cunneen

CORPORAL Geoff Hanckel, a PTI from CSU Wagga has taken on the ADF’s best – and won. Now he’s backing up to take on the world.

Three gruelling days — one a Saturday where the more sedentary of us potter at sport saw him sweeping a large contingent of the ADF’s triathlete crème de la crème.

He won the Australian Services Triathlon Associacian’s Long Course, was second in the 10km run, third in the 60km cycle and sixth in the cycling criterium. And that makes him the ADF’s Endurance Champion for 2004.
For CPL Hanckel sport is his life and triathlons the ultimate.

“I started in Australian rules but got tired of the injuries,” he said. I decided to change and try something less punishing, and found that Triathlons let me challenge myself just as hard. They’re hard work and the training is hard, but I love them.”

Enlisting in the Air Force in 2001 as a clerk supply, he quickly found his niche in 2003 when he changed to PTI.

“Joining the Air Force gave me the opportunity to pursue my love of sport, compete at this sort of level and maintain my lifestyle.”

CPL Hanckel has competed in triathlons in the past but the 2004 ASTA event was his first in the ADF.
Describing the conditions as comfortable, he found the cycling sections testing.

“The 60km ride was good but the wind got up during the criterium and gave an uncomfortable headwind. Then, during the triathlon the bike section was again tough because the course was flat.

“We had to work and drive the entire course. There was no reprieve, which meant my legs stiffened up and made the first kilometre of the run hard. However, I was OK once I got into the swing of it.

“I got the result I wanted and am happy with the way it all went. It was a good competition.”

Corporal Hanckel now faces a tougher challenge. On May 8 he represents Australia as part of the national team at Madeira, Portugal against more than 600 of the world’s best triathletes from 75 countries in the 30-34 age group. But he is no stranger to this competition, having competed in Mexico in 2002 where he finished 11th.

“I expect to do better this time, I’m a lot stronger and more knowledgeable [about the sport].

He is also clear about his short-term future. Seven or eight weeks of hard training and then, “I have a ‘round-the-world ticket, I’m going to put my feet up for about a month.”

CPL Hanckel has self-financed the entire cost of his particpation in Madiera.

After the ADF championships he congratulated Warrant Officer Class Two Greg Young for his organisation and running of the endurance events.

.