Triathlon triumphs

Women’s and Men’s Individual winners in the 2014 Kakadu Triathlon, Rebekka Atz and 2013 champion Chris Piggott-McKellar with their trophies on race day, Saturday 31 May. 

IT was a day full of life and laughter, triumphs and tragedies. The 2014 Kakadu Triathlon on Saturday 31 May was an outstanding success, attracting 107 competitors, an increase on the 91who participated last year. Along with the winners and the wooden-spooners were those for whom fate had intervened — those destined to spend this year’s race on the sidelines.

One of those scratchings was one of the race favourites, Anthony Reid. The big guy had earlier thrown down the gauntlet to last year’s champion Chris Piggott-Mackellar, and that contest was shaping up as a battle of wills. But it was not to be. Anthony’s wife Jill Reid is soon to be a mum, and some unavoidably inflexible appointment schedules meant Anthony would be at birthing classes in Darwin on race day.

A rueful Anthony told The Wire he had tried without success to get the appointment day changed, but in the end it came down to priorities. Chris Piggott-McKellar travelled in from Rockhampton to successfully defended his title in the Male Open event, clocking a time of 38:43. But in a stunning turnaround, the winner of the Junior Male event, Bryn Pickering, completed the course in the same time.

This year was the first time juniors had competed in the triathlon, and students from Jabiru Area School more than held their own. School principal Phil Maunder led by example, and with his wife Belinda took second place in the team event.

Always on hand to help out at community events, the Jabiru Fire Station fielded two teams and cooled down competitors with a fire hose at the finish line. Mike Martin, Justin Gould and Michael Hutton from the fire station put in a strong showing to win the team event.

Rebekka Atz took out the Female Open in 43:55, with Samantha Orum winning the Junior Female event in 57:45.

Kye Van De Veerdonk was another of those relegated to the sidelines after breaking a bone in his foot only a couple of weeks before race day. Kye, who said he was “devastated” by the turn of events, still came along on the day.

“I’m here to cheer on my girlfriend, my two little brothers, and my dad Richard,” Kye said.

He was in good company, with plenty of spirited local supporters and volunteers cheering on their friends and family from the sidelines. Winner in the women’s event, Rebekka Atz, said she had been training with a group of female friends, Anna Egerton, Mikaela Mobsby, Belinda Maunder, Aoife Harrison and Helen Thompson.

“We are all recent mums, and have been training together and supporting each other,” Rebekka said.

Winner in the male event, Chris Piggott-McKellar, said defending his title was not the only reason he had come back to Jabiru.

“Being on the organising committee last year I know how the event is valued by everybody here, and that is what I get out of it,” he said. “I hope it remains a mainstay of the Kakadu calendar for years to come. And I hope that in some way the event is a sign for people in Darwin that Kakadu is open, and that it is the time of year to come out here.”

Fitness trainer Brendan O’Brien, who took competitors through early morning warm-up exercises on the day, said the event was a great success.

“You only get half a year out here to do something like this,” Brendan said. “It gives you something to aim towards, and gives a sense of purpose to your  training.”

Speaking at the presentation, event coordinator Leona Katzer said the day could not have been a success without community support.

“The Kakadu Triathlon Organising Committee would like to thank you for your time and generous effort in ensuring the success of Kakadu Triathlon,” she said.

As a result of that help and support, the Kakadu Triathlon raised $8,288.98 for CareFlight.

“As a remote community, Jabiru is reliant on the services provided by CareFlight. This essential medical service is not only lifesaving for residents living in Jabiru and surrounding communities of Kakadu, but is also crucial to visitors of Kakadu and Arnhem Land. CareFlight can be the difference between life and death for anyone living or visiting remote communities.

“As well as raising money for CareFlight, the Triathlon also promotes health, fitness and general wellbeing of the community as well as showcasing Kakadu National Park.”

Triathlon singlets are still available for a limited time from Kakadu Triathlon sponsors Jabiru Foodland and the Jabiru Sports & Social Club. For more photos of the event, visit the Kakadu Triathlon facebook page at www.facebook.com/kakadutriathlon.

Full results will be posted on the facebook page as soon as they are available.