Tindal’s trying affair

LAC Chris Sharp emerges from the pool after the swimming leg. Photo by SGT Mark McIntyre

SECPOL, ground defence and fire fighting personnel all made their presence felt at the recent RAAF Tindal triathlon.

The event was a Grand Prix, consisting of a 1km run, 200m swim, 5km bike ride, 200m swim, 5km bike ride, and a final 1km run in hot conditions.

The run comprised two laps of the PFT track, the swim was four laps of the pool around floating buoys and the ride comprised two laps of the married patch.

Individual categories comprised the Open Men’s, Open Women’s and 40+ Men’s. Team categories featured teams of three and six.

Competitors stepped up from 322CSS Photographics, Ground Defence, Fire, SECPOL, Catering, Supply, MEOMS, HQ, Personnel Services Flight, COMCEN/BISC, Health Services Flight, 44WG, 1ATS, and 2CRU Detachment Tindal.

At 9am the individuals took to their heels and set a cracking pace – 37.31 minutes later Leading Aircraftman Josh Melville crossed the line. The first woman, Leading Aircraftwoman Belina Connor, finished in 48.27.

With all individuals finished, a tug-of-war (males versus females) was held. It was here that dubious play was noted as Tindal’s OC, Group Captain Corrie Metz, moved the finish markers. Despite this the males hung on to win two pulls to nil.

The rest over, the teams set off and turned in quicker times than the individuals with most in the low 30s.
At the end of the triathlon a barbecue was held, the presentations were made and the races were rerun in the follow-on “bull” sessions. These talked of incidents such as one involving Leading Aircraftman Mark Shakes, who didn’t feel like pushing his bike through the transition area. So he picked it up and ran on with it after throwing his pump into a neighbouring garden.

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