By
CPL Simone Liebelt
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LACW
Belina Connor keeps up the pace as the only female competitor
in the Tindal triathlon.
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Men’s
division winner LAC Josh Melville leads the pack in the
cycling stage.
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Photos
by SGT Mark Eaton
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A
CLERK has won the RAAF Base Tindal women’s individual open triathlon
for the third year running. Leading Aircraftwoman Belina Connor,
from No. 322 Combat Support Squadron, said the win was no big
deal because she was the only woman who entered – for the third
year running.
“You get heaps of guys competing in this event, but no girls,
so I just run along with the guys and do the best I can,” she
said. “I’ve got to represent the females, because no one else
will.”
A keen sportswoman and part-time aerobics instructor, LACW Connor
said she was just happy to improve on her performance from last
year. “The guys take it more seriously because they’re up against
each other, but I know I won’t beat them, so I just go in it for
my own fitness and a bit of fun.
I was only a couple of minutes behind the last guy that came in,
but it didn’t worry me, because I still won [my event]!” The annual
base triathlon on March 18 also included a men’s and over 40’s
individual open and a three and sixperson team event.
Base PTI Corporal Darren Pay said while numbers were down this
year, the highlight of the event was seeing the men’s individual
winner retain his title after only recently recovering from a
leg injury.
Firefighter Leading Aircraftman Josh Melville was the clear leader
throughout the race, finishing about 500 metres ahead in a time
just under 40 minutes.
“What really stood out for me was the fact that someone like Josh
could get up there after having broken his tibia six months ago
and participate in this event, let alone actually win it,” CPL
Pay said.
“I was surprised to see him competing and expected him to give
it a go, but he more than just gave it a go, he did a great job.
When it comes to fitness, I think more people should be like him,
that’s for sure.”
The triathlon was run in a “Grand Prix” format, in which competitors
did a 1km run, 200m swim and 5km bike ride, followed by another
swim, ride and run of the same distance.
In the three-person team event, members contested two legs of
the race each, while the six-person team members did one leg each.
The winning teams were Ground Defence Section and the Mechanical
Equipment Operational Maintenance Squadron. Tony McGregor, from
the Information Systems Office, won the over 40’s competition.
