A quarter of a century is almost as long as the sport of triathlon has been around. In that time the casuarinas of Yarralumla Bay have looked on as numerous souls have experienced the thrill of triathlon for the first time, world champions have come and gone, and thousands have enjoyed the triumphal sprint along the famous finishing chute under their welcoming shade.
Sri Chinmoy himself, the inspiration behind this and hundreds of annual sporting events worldwide and founder of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team which stages the race, passed away just weeks ago, on 11 October at his home in New York.
As a tribute to the living spirit of Sri Chinmoy's inspiration, the 25th Triathlon Festival bearing his name proceeded as planned, albeit without Friday's Junior Joyathons.
This was the first time the event would be staged in late October. Since Canberra winters have been less severe in recent times, the lake has not been coming off such a cold base, so trends have seen the lake warming much earlier in the season.
The average water temperature of 19.4C proved ideal, allowing wetsuit use while not intimidating those who chose to go without. While this time of year can be prone to storms, the milder temperatures certainly offered a welcome change from the searing heat of recent summer races.
The Festival opened on an unassuming note with a small gathering dotted along the beach in readiness for the first leg of the Sri Chinmoy Off-Road Triathlon, a 680 metre swim to the far side of the lake at Black Mountain Peninsula. There followed a 25 km mountain bike ride around Black Mountain, through the Cork Oaks and over Dairy Farmers Hill, wading across the Molonglo River and through Westbourne Woods to the transition at Yarralumla Bay. The final 5 km run course headed along Stirling Ridge then returned around the lake's sometimes rocky frontier.
Michael Gosman, the only entrant in the Solo Male Under 20 division, powered home as the first solo male outright on the back of the day's fastest solo swim, ride and run splits, finishing 12 minutes ahead of his nearest rival, Shane Williams. The only other athlete to come close to his swim time was his dad, Alex Gosman, swimming for the all-male winning Team "40 & 50" with Rod Higgins, whose bike split was 8 minutes faster than any other rider. Rod's partner, Allison Campbell paired up with Julia Graczyk in "Mum's Day Out" to take the all-women's Team prize. Raeleigh Rogers successfully defended her title, leading home the women's field by a clear 10 minutes from Anne Napier.
Another first was the staging of the Sri Chinmoy Joyathon (left) on Saturday afternoon as a prelude to the Sprint Triathlon. Brayden Clews-Proctor has shown outstanding talent in winning his age group for several years in the Primary School Junior Joyathons, and this time excelled in the Open race, not only winning the Boys Under 13 division but coming in 3rd place outright behind ace athletes John Hovius and Keith Cassilles-Southgate. Brooke Donnelly, entered in the girls under 17 division, was first female from another junior, Alice Wallett. Amy Edwards turned in one of the performances of the day in winning the girls under 13's. Meanwhile Hayden's mum, former world long-course champion Gayelene Clews made her comeback to triathlon after a 15-year break with a pleasing 2nd place in the 17 - 50 yr women's division.
It has been 15 years since someone has broken 53 minutes for the Sri Chinmoy Sprint Triathlon. Aaron Farlowe was probably unaware as he blitzed the field in a virtual time trial that he would come so close - a mere 3 seconds - to Greg Welch's course record of 52:40 set back in the race's glory days in 1992. Easily clocking the fastest swim, bike and run splits, Aaron finished 6 and a half minutes clear of Josh Berry, the only other athlete to finish inside the hour. Yvette Fisher was the first female across the line, ahead of under 20's Danielle Cooper and Hayley Gosman. Canberra's own world champion Rad Leovic (right) became the first ever 80-year old to complete the race, to a rousing ovation.
Sunday dawned clear, still and bright as another small field of just 20 lined up for the long swim (3.2 km) of the Sri Chinmoy Champions Challenge. The Sri Chinmoy 'Classic' Tri got under way 2 hours later. Almost everyone had remembered the start of Daylight Savings, though a few turned up dismayed as swimmers were running out of the water. The 'Classic' athletes then headed onto the 40 km loop course through Coppins Crossing, though they only had to complete one lap while the Champions Challengers would come around 3 times. As Paul Every later commented: "The 3 laps offered plenty of variety: it hurt in a different way each time!"
The 'Classic' run course is scenic and varied, a most satisfying finish to the journey. Paul O'Doherty commanded the cycle and run legs to cruise home a winner by 3 and a half minutes, while Natalie Wood was pressed harder by Sarah Greenwood in the women's race. Evergreen competitor Lachlan Lewis (left) enjoyed his move up to the male over 70's with a category win in his 21st Sri Chinmoy Triathlon Festival.
While the later 'Classic' Tri contestants were finishing, the weather's mood was shifting. Low dark clouds took up their positions and a strong gale tormented the Champions Challenge cyclists still on their last lap. Onto the 2-lap lakeside 30 km run and the wind brought showers, then cleared to a picture-postcard day under glorious sunshine.
While only the second time this race has been run (and with an altered cycle leg), Brad Course finished in a new course record of 6:38:51, trailing only "Troy's Team" which took out the first place mixed team division. The men's 40-49 age category dominated the race, filling half of the solo men's field. Laura Marshall and Kylie Gaffel flew the flag for the women, conquering the wind and the rain to both finish around the 9 hour mark.
It is not often that a "DNF" gets a special mention in a race report. But the story of Ashley Snow (right) is remarkable. 6 months ago he saw an ad for this race and decided he had to do it. He was the first entrant. Never mind that he had never done a triathlon, or that he couldn't swim. The Sydney bus driver headed for the pool and started training with a single focus, shedding 15 kilos along the way. Just to front the starting line was a huge achievement, and while he did not quite finish the swim leg (coming to shore in the boat for just the last 200 metres), he refused to buckle and soldiered on to complete the cycle and run. Though a technical non-finisher, we were proud to present him his "Sri Chinmoy Champions Challenge" medal. Why? Because for sheer determination, guts and the courage to follow his dream, he showed us all the traits of a true champion.
Geoff Llewellyn had participated in every Sri Chinmoy Triathlon Festival since the first in 1984. indeed it was he who had recommended Yarralumla Bay as a potential venue for the race. This year, with a pending shoulder operation, the 73-year old Geoff could not complete, but instead helped out both days in the cycle compound. Our gratitude to Geoff for his glowing inspiration and sterling support.
Thanks also to Triathlon ACT for their solid leadership of the sport in Canberra and this event in particular, and to Ian Clout and his unassuming team of technical officials for ensuring the weekend proceeded so smoothly. Thanks also to the volunteers who keep it all together on the ground: from SES, Canberra Canoe Club, NSW Snowsports, ACT Ice Skating. And to all our sponsors: Capital Tourism, Hammer Nutrition, The Canberra Times, Onya Bike Belconnen, Reebok, and the Natrional Parks & Wildlife Service. And thanks to the members of the Sri Chinmoy Centres from around Australia who continue to come to support this event.
And lastly our special gratitude and congratulations to you: all the athletes who bring your heart's enthusiasm, courage, determination and joy, qualities which make all our lives better and brighter.
Full results for all races of the Sri Chinmoy Triathlon Festival >>
Photo album (in progress) >>
Upcoming Sri Chinmoy Races not to be missed - earlybird entries for both these events close this coming Monday 5 November at 6 pm, after which a higher fee will apply, so get your entries in!
Sunday 11 November: Sri Chinmoy National Capital Swim - swim the 9 km length of Lake Burley Griffin, for solo swimmers and relay teams of 4. Enter online now >>
Sunday 18 November: Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon - the capital's greatest one day adventure, for solo athletes and teams of 3 or up to 9 members. Enter online now >>
