Scody Club Championships – 2016 – Race Report
“WE (OCTC) ARE ON THE RADAR”
This is the overwhelming result of our first team effort at the NSW Club Triathlon Championships.
A hugely experienced, diverse and enthusiastic team of 15 represented OCTC at this year’s club championships on Saturday 2 April 2016 finishing 12th overall of 35 clubs. The club championships is that, it is all about the clubs, every competitor gains points for their club by competing, club volunteers receive points for the club, if you are the first competitor from your club to finish in the top 25 in your age group your club receives performance points, and each club member thereafter that finishes in the top 25 blocks other clubs from receiving performance points. (I will explain in more detail on presentation night!)
Arriving in Forster on Friday, the team gathered for a pre-race catch up, drink, meal and were greeted by a beautiful evening and sunset. It was after dinner that what I believe will now be a club tradition the Whitely Boys, Aidan and Connor, assisted by Michael Lockyer “staked our claim” in the marquee precinct. With drink in hand and under the cover of darkness, a mischievous intent to relocate a high profile team’s marquee and replace with our own, to the disgust of his team mates your President “whimped” out! We did however secure a great location overlooking the finish line and recovery area.
Saturday, race day, hot, humid, an afternoon race, conditions where Piranha’s thrive! Consisting of a 1Km open water swim, 30Km technical bike ride, and 8Km “crowded” run, the waves started at 12.30pm with the final wave at 1.40pm, due to the broad age range represented, our team was spread out across the course. “Race hard, fair and with OCTC pride” and that is what happened!
Achievements-:
· 11 of our team finished top 25 achieving performance points or blocking points.
· Rob Woolley recorded the fastest run time of the day, a blistering 24:28!!! There was lots of chatter after the race about the guy from Orange, who was “flying” in the run, talking to everyone with a massive smile on his face! Rob finished 5th in his age group.
· Connor Whiteley finished 2nd in his age group.
· Brian Sharp finished 3rd in his age group.
Team OCTC were very conspicuous with their comradery at the finish line, and were commended at the presentations for cheering every competitor home to the very last.
With the racing finished a rewarding drink awaited under the OCTC marquee, no better way to recover from what was a tough day of racing and supporting.
The day concluded with the presentations held at Club Forster, a massive thank you to Frank and Kyle Ostini for organising dinner for the team and coordinating the evening culminating with the presentations.
During the presentation ceremony, OCTC received special mention when our position was announced, in brief “OCTC was commended for the support and spirit we show at all races, and the other clubs were put on notice that we would be a force in future years!!!!”.
A massive THANK YOU to family and friends that supported our team. The course is not spectator friendly, but as usual OCTC stood out from the crowd with enthusiastic support for all competitors.
I encourage all OCTC members to agenda the NSW Club Championships in 2017, it is a fantastic event. We have a real chance of winning the “Country Club” championship which was taken out by Central Coast this year. The planning is already underway………….