ITU Age Group Triathlon World Championships

By Kim Perks,

Police participation in the ITU Age Group Triathlon World Championships held September 2009, Gold Coast

Six police officers qualified and competed in this year's ITU Age Group Triathlon World Championships and like any good sporting competition it wasn't without its dramas and challenges.

The event was held on Australia's Gold Coast with the harsh sun a bit of a climate shock after relentless winter training.

The female athletes had the most dramatic tales to tell. Deidre Lack (Bay of Plenty) was in the standard distance 35-39 age group (1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run) but, like many other athletes, warmed up during the week by competing in the aquathlon (2.5k run, 400m swim, 2.5k run).

Not only did she post her best ever run times in the aquathlon, she brought a bronze medal back to New Zealand finishing the third fastest in the world in her age group. Three became a good number for Deidre when she became the third fastest New Zealand athlete home in her main triathlon event.

The other female officer who competed, Sarah Blair, proved what a tough bunch they are down in Canterbury. During bike training, two weeks out from the worlds, she had an argument with the tarmac and the tarmac won. The outcome wasn't pretty, and with a broken cheek bone, nose and eye socket there were doubts as to whether she would be allowed to compete.

She did get permission, but luck clearly wasn't on her side when she lost a cycle shoe as she headed out on the bike leg. It didn't deter her and she cycled the entire 40k in just one shoe.

Graham Perks (Central) cycled a personal best 40k, and having been the 8th fastest Kiwi at qualification he finished the actual event as the 4th fastest, shaving nearly three minutes off his qualifying time. Glen Yule (Eastern) also cycled a personal best and did a personal best overall time.

For Tony Brownrigg (Central), his sprint event was probably his warm up, as later this month he is set to complete in the long-distance world championships in Perth where he will endure 3k in the water, 80k on the bike and a 20k run.

The last competitor in the police line-up was Graham Tomkins who was the first New Zealand athlete home in his age group and secured a world age-group ranking of 35.

It was a fantastic achievement by all six athletes representing both the police service and their country.

A final mention should go to New Plymouth constable Jeff McGrath. More used to competing he did a fantastic job as one of the support team for the New Zealand Squad giving up precious time to help other athletes, despite being in training for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii later this month.