When Tri Alliance turns up to a race, you know you are in for a good time! And Noosa did not disappoint our 55+ athletes, family and friends that made the annual trip to participate in the Noosa Multi-Sports Festival. We may not have been the largest squad competing (although would have come very close) we were definitely the largest in size, presence and NOISE!
The day before the race the TA officials told us that the water temp was 24.1deg – so declared a non-wetsuit swim. This didn’t phase our athletes though as we’d been training leading into the race without wetsuits and our athletes were prepared for the warm water swim.
Race morning the conditions started off near perfect with only mild wind and a nice cloud cover. First off were the elites and open and then the Athena’s and Clydesdales – with a great presence from TA athletes including Nola, Stan, Lisa and Sally to lead off the Tri Alliance athletes. The race started at 6.30am and the last wave didn’t go off until after 9.00am – so you can just imagine the number of athletes streaming in throughout the morning, and with 55 Tri Alliance athletes on course, it made for a great spectator sport and the Tri Alliance and Brisbane Tri Squad tents were the perfect vantage points to cheer our guys in as they rounded to the finish line.
The early start by some athletes also meant they got an early start on the drinks – we hear the some late starters were more concerned about not having any drinks left post race rather than how hot it was going to be on course!!
Well done to all our athletes both on the course and off it in cheering in other competitors and making for such a great atmosphere at the finish line.
After the race there was the usual anticipation as athletes tried relentlessly to find out their results, when they finally came through there was excitement (and a few comparisons) amongst our athletes. There were numerous PB’s with some big one’s coming from Dave Nealon, Margs, Narelle, Jody, Marina, JP (and I’m sure many more!)
A big congratulations also goes to our age group podium finishers:
Ryan Bourke – 2nd 25-29M. Ryan has only been in the sport for 12 months, but has already showed he has what it takes. He hasn’t finished off the podium and is set for a big year ahead. He smoked the course in a 2:02, the fastest of our athletes – watch out for a sub 2hour Olympic this year from Ryan!
Sarah Grove – 3rd 25-29F. With Sarah’s A grade race in just over a week’s time, Noosa was a great lead in race and sets her up for another solid season as she sets to laminate her preferred distance of Half Ironman. Walked away with a PB in a time of 2:19, our fastest female athlete.
Other special mentions include:
Stan – A big special mention to Stan as he paced Nola the whole way round the course to help her complete her very first Olympic Distance Race! Top work by both of them!
Deano – for taking the time out of his race to assist Pam from the perils of a mounting line stack to help her to her feet and continue on her way. Watch the video here: 
Pam, Nola, Lidia, Lisa, Michelle – taking on an Olympic Distance for the first time and showed everyone how it is done! Well done ladies, a great effort to get to the start and an even bigger achievement to finish in style.
Brett Parker – our resident pilot with Virgin airlines who snuck in a quick swim / bike before pulling out of the run so he could get back in time to pilot a flight that afternoon! We hear his T2 was longer than most but got there in time. Not a bad effort!
Anthony, Reuben, Sheridan, Carly – all completed in teams and got into the atmosphere and excitement of this fantastic event!
HEAPS of first timers – we have LOADS of first time Olympic Distance athletes racing and what better race to do it at than Noosa!
Thanks to Anthony Churchward who has kindly put together a list of our Tri Alliance athletes results (see attached) – apologies if we missed anyone. Thanks again Anthony – you a definitely a ‘results’ man!!
If you haven’t experienced the Multi-Sports Festival, then make sure you put it in your calendar for next year. This event attracts 7000+ competitors in individuals and teams and is the 3rd biggest race in the world. Tri Alliance will again be supporting this fantastic race next year and spends a week acclimatising, training, having fun, soaking up the sun and atmosphere (and racing!) and everything that this event brings.
Entries open for next year’s race NEXT WEEK so if you are wanting to enter – you will HAVE to lock this in your diary! No ballots this year – just first in first served!
2012 Noosa Triathlon Entries
Individual entries open online Tuesday 8th November at 9am (Qld time) (10.00am MELBOURNE TIME). Team entries will open at 9am (10.00am MELBOURNE TIME) Tuesday 15th November 2011 (QLD time).
See you all there next year!
Team Tri Alliance
