Sport
Steely Ironman
By CAPT David Williams

Edition 4908, 17 May, 2007
 
IRON WILL: ACW Wendy Holt from RAAF Base Williamtown was the third female placegetter in the ADSTA Ironman Championships.
Photo by CAPT David Williams
 
CPL Geoff Hanckel
 
Air Force’s CPL Geoff Hanckel showed his steel to become the Australian Defence Sports Triathlon Association’s (ADSTA) Ironman champion at Port Macquarie recently, leaving a titanic battle for the minor placings in his wake.

The ADSTA’s annual national championships were contested in conjunction with Australia’s National Ironman, with 25 Defence triathletes accepting the Ironman challenge and competing for their Service.

The Ironman triathlon is a gruelling event that comprises a 3.8km swim, 180.2km ride and a 42.1km marathon run. Some 1600 triathletes jostled for position along the start line to the swim at the mouth of the Hastings River at 6am on race day.

CPL Hanckel completed the swim in 48.54, the cycle section in 5:11.44 and the marathon in 3:10.17 as the Air Force emerged as the champion Ironman triathlon Service for 2007.

Second in the individual honours was Navy’s LCDR Doug Griffiths (58.24 swim, 5:25.51 cycle and 3:53.01 marathon) from Air Force’s SGT Craig Ewen-Crawford (59.44 swim, 5:36.38 cycle and 3:59.00 marathon).

After a clean start, CPL Hanckel led the field of ADSTA competitors out of the water and into the ride, pursued by OFFCDT Ben Monaghan, 10-time Ironman Australia finisher WGCDR Brock McKinlay and LCDR Doug Griffiths.

LCDR Griffiths caught WGCDR McKinlay by the 5km mark and the two pushed each other to the limit as they worked together to maintain a fast cycle pace.

Halfway through the run, LCDR Griffiths had pulled away from WGCDR McKinlay.

A late surge from SGT Ewen-Crawford kept MAJ Johannes in fourth but was not enough to catch LCDR Griffiths. Running at a 3:23 marathon pace, Air Force’s CPL Dean Cook was reeling in the leaders but simply ran out of track and finished fifth.

CPL Hanckel finished 15th overall and second in his 30-34 age group.

He also qualified for the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon.

Jodie Barker (HMAS Cerberus) led from start to finish producing a strong swim and a 3:40 marathon to outclass the ADSTA women’s field.

Army’s CAPT Dell Madge found the crush of the swim start a real challenge, exiting the water 10 minutes slower than expected. She showed great resolve to recover and finish second behind Miss Barker and place fifth in her 35-39 age group.

Consistent across all disciplines, ACW Wendy Holt rounded out the female ADSTA placegetters in third.