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GPCAPT
Bill Johnson, then and now
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Flight
Lieutenant Richard Gardiner has proved he is a true Ironman with
a strong performance in the 42km marathon at the Australian Ironman
at Forster-Tuncurry on April 4.
FLTLT Gardiner clocked 9:32:57 to finish as the fourth ADF competitor
and 16th in the 25-29 age group after a blistering 3:01:24 marathon.
He had gone into the run a full 36 minutes behind the leaders
but with the knowledge that in 2003 he had set the fastest Defence
run of the day at 3:12:31. This year he staggered the Ironman
by knocking an almost unbelievable 11 minutes off that time.
He was part of a 40-strong Defence team that joined some 1500
other triathletes for the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run.
Four ADF athletes achieving podium finishes, the ADF’s best-ever
result in the event.
Captain Stirling Keen’s overall performance of 9:13:19 earned
him the status of 2004 ADF Ironman Champion and a place in the
Australian team for the World Ironman Triathlon Championship in
Hawaii in October.
Of the women competitors, Captain Christina Van Der Hulst crossed
the line in 10:44:14 to secure her first ADF Ironwoman Championship
and finish third overall in her age group.
Corporal Julia Morris-finlay was the first ADF woman to emerge
from the water but she faded in the cycling and running legs.
