Most Improved Male Junior Triathlete - Luke Rutledge
Most Improved male Trystar - Jacob Jones
Jacob has been doing triathlon for a couple of years now. During the 08/09 season he had some great performances with a highlight coming 3rd at the Duathlon in Cronulla. He also experienced his first disaster at Mudgee where he was taken out in the pool. Jacob loves the bike and can be found cycling to Mona Vale with Chook or his dad on the weekend.
Most Improved female Trystar - Ashley Jones
Ashlee has been doing triathlons for 12 months. She enjoyed most the weekend at Gunnedah. Ashlee loves the swim leg and her road bike (who’s name is) “Barney”, although now this year Ashlee has grown and now loves her road bike “The Blue TREK”.
Male Trystar of the Year - Kieren Tall
Kieran is very passionate about his training and racing. He has been involved with triathlons for a few years now. Although his age group is considered to be non competitive you can always find Kieren in the top 4 places. Kieren loves to run and we love to see him powering down the run leg to a great finish.
Female Trystar of the Year – Laura Jones.
Laura is known for flinging her goggles at mum & dad straight after the swim leg with a smile. Laura loves the run leg but is known not to breathe very much during this leg and get to the end a little frazzled. She also loves the travelling and social life with triathlon.
Junior Male Triathlete of the Year – Jelle Bakker
Jelle has had a fantastic year. It started with Jelle making the State Performance Squad, Great performances in the Pro Tour races. The season finished just as strong with a 3rd place in the National All Schools, 24 points with WTC at the club champs and is now training for the ITU U23 World Aquathon (he will represent Netherlands……you will see him with a “NED” on the front of his suit). This is the second year Jelle has won the Junior male triathlete of the year
Junior Female Triathlete of the Year and most improved female Junior Triathlete – Brooke Langereis.
Brooke has had a fantastic year. It started with Brooke making the State Performance Squad and great performances in the Pro Tour races. The season finished just as strong with the National All Schools and she is now training for the ITU U23 World Aquathon where she will represent Australia. Brooke started triathlons in August 08, prior to this you could always find Brooke at a swimming meet flying down the pool.
Rookie of the Year – Kurt Lehmann.
Our 2009 Rookie of the year is new to our club this year. I’m told Kurt spent his formative years on the beat in Manly supervising some of the early triathlon series held in this area. He said one day I’ll have a go at that. He competed at a number of club races finishing with a third and two fourths amongst tough competition. He was the sixth fastest Warringah male at club champs and had some great results at Kurnell. He’s made the Australian team to go to the Gold Coast in September at the sprint distance. All of this in his first year.
Rookie Ironman – Alistair Graham
New to the club this year our Rookie Ironman completed Port Macquarie in April this year – a few short weeks after welcoming his first child to the Northern Beaches. He’s a great 10km runner but wasn’t sure how he’d go in a marathon after the swim and bike warm up. It was a tough and wet day on the bike but true to form he pulled out a 3:38 marathon and finished in a fantastic 10:41.
Most Improved Triathlete – Pete Short
Our next winner was knocked off his bike in March 2008 just weeks before he was due to compete in PM Ironman. His bike was replaced and he had an outstanding race finishing in 11:39 but knew he wanted to do better. He signed up for Busselton at the end of 2008 to make amends. He smashed his personal best time and the 10 hour mark finishing in 9:53:31. (4:58 on the bike backed up by a 3:41 marathon). Since then he’s gone on break his own personal bests in 10km races and Calga timetrials and had the fourth fastest bike at club champs.
Ironman of the Year – Rebecca Eveleigh
This is always a tough category when the nominations flood in. We’ve had outstanding results from so many members. Geoff Thorsen made it to Hawaii for the 20th year in a row and Nicole Ward has had outstanding results in the Pro field recently finishing 2nd at Ironman Japan following 5th in Busselton and 7th in New Zealand. This year’s winner though has been working hard over the past couple of years at half ironman and Ironman. She won the national half ironman series in the 30-34 age group which is a huge achievement in a competitive age group. She finished 4th in her age group at Port Macquarie in 10:42 and backed it up with a 3rd overall at the NSW Club Championships. She’s had lots of other great results and we expect big things of her in the future.
Male Club Champion (Presidents Cup) – Peter Walker
The club champion trophy is awarded to the season’s most consistent performer. The total point score from the club’s duathlon and triathlon series is added to the Warringah results from Club Championships and two external races where at least 10 club members raced. It’s always tight at the top and this year was no different.
Female Club Champion (Presidents Cup) – Mel Vandewater
Our 2009 Female Club Champion raced in 5 out of 8 of the club races winning every time she raced and scoring the highest combined points. She placed 4th in the Pro Female field at the Australian Long Course Championships and recently won in the United States. She’s had a string of fantastic results this season and she’s a wonderful supporter of the club.
Volunteer of the Year – Graham Latta
Club’s like ours depend on volunteers and this is an award that the committee have great pleasure in presenting. This year’s winner has attended just about every club race as a volunteer. Early in the season the NSW Maritime authority added a requirement to the club races that meant we had to have a power boat on the swim course. Our volunteer said no worries I have one of those. Since then he’s towed it to each race, set the swim course and conducted water safety. At the last race the boat ramp was closed. After a phone call or two he had another couple of volunteers to lift the boat over the gate, into the water and then around to the swim course. He still finds time to train for Ironman and he is an Ironman legend.
Triathlete of the Year – Pete Walker (for the fourth year running)
Nominees for this award must compete in club races and provide support to the club throughout the season and demonstrate high achievements in State, National and or international races. Our 2009 winner placed 3rd in his age group at the World Olympic Distance Championships in Vancouver Canada, he was 2nd overall at this year’s Club Championships beating people literally half his age. He was 1st at Cronulla Olympic distance, 1st in Brisbane, 1st at Nepean, 1st at the Australian Duathon Championships, 1st Overall at the NSW Duathlon Championships and 1st at the ACT Duathlon Championships. He’s at every club race and he always has time for other club members and is an enormous asset to our club.
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