Presidents Report season 04/05

North Coast had another very successful year. Membership numbers continued to rise – peaking at 280. Our results were outstanding. We were Champion Club runners up. State interclub championship winners and Wild West inter Tri Club Challenge winners.

Triathlon is an extreme sport and as such is very challenging, requires many sacrifices and therefore the results whether they be few or many are hard earned. There are always instances of courageous performances and over achievements. Everyone in the Club will remember this past season for a variety of reasons: 1st triathlon, first LD triathlon, 1st podium finish or maybe even a 1st finish. I hope that all members achieved what they set out to do, but more importantly I hope that the Club was some help in getting you there. We try to offer you an environment that gives the best of both competitive and social interaction.

In past seasons we enjoyed massive support and encouragement from family, friends and supporters. Nothing lifts flagging spirits more, than some of the enthusiastic encouragement from the sidelines. Some of the tougher finishes might not have occurred without some of this support. These supporters are an example of the spirit of the North Coast culture - let’s ensure that never changes. On a slightly less enthusiastic note I would like to mention the committee’s disappointment at the lack of response to our various calls for volunteers. The Club will be 350+ strong this year and the events that it puts on will become logistically more and more difficult to schedule. It will require a massive change in attitude by members to alleviate this reluctance to volunteer. I plead now to all members to consider their role in sharing the load of running this Club. If the resistant trend continues this Club will simply become a convenience that is used once a year by Triathletes wanting to join TWA at the Club member discount rate. Gone will be the Club activities such as the Aquathlons and Duathlons – there will simply not be enough members prepared to put in the time and effort to organize them. Three Triathlon Clubs in WA folded this year – simply because no one wanted to run them. Sign of the times? I sincerely hope not. Having said that piece, I would sincerely like to thank the small loyal band of volunteers that did turn out at event after event - you guys know who you are , the best of the best.

Looking at the Results

Many members were TWA Age Group “Triathlete of the Year” winners. These included:

Senior : Susan Scott, Barry Silverlock, Bill Whalley
Many other members also placed 2nd and 3rd.

Continuing with achievements.

State Duathlon Championships:
Barry Silverlock – age group state champion.

State Aquathlon Championships:
Hayley Norton, Lisa Bergin, Loretta Wesley, Barry Silverlock and David Norton were all State AG champions.

State Sprint Championships:
Ben Edwards-Rapley, Hayley Norton, Paul McSweeney, Susan Scott, Robyn Scott, Bill Whalley were all State AG champions.

State Olympic Distance Championships:
Lajos Varga and Bill Whalley were both State AG champions.

State Long Course Championships:
Barry Silverlock and Bill Whalley were both State AG champions.

Well done to you all. Our juniors were again one of the major contributors to the points accumulated in us being runners up for Champion Club Trophy. We do need more Ladies racing in TWA point’s races next year. As Champion Club last year we failed to hold on to the trophy simply because we had so few senior ladies racing in those events this past season.

Two members represented in the WA State Schools Team – Ben Edwards-Rapley and Jade Turner. They both acquitted themselves very well. As encouragement to keep up the interest in Triathlon the Club does sponsor these state representative members with $100.00 each, pays their club membership for the following year (this new season) and gives them free entry to all club events also for one season.

Major races plus local, Interstate & Overseas

An incredible 28 (against last years record of 17) members raced and finished Ironman last season including Bill Whalley and Paul McSweeney who achieved the ultimate in Triathlon by competing at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Additionally both Robyn Scott & Kim Vivian, have been selected to represent Australia at the World OD championships later this year. In the National series Robyn Scott won her age group at the Geelong race. At the Malaysian International OD race Kim Vivian was the overall winner.

Major club awards were received by:

Club Triathlete of the Year - Bill Whalley.
Junior Triathletes of the year - Jade Turner & Ben Edwards - Rapley.
Club Person of the Year - Kim Tyler Lees.

Season 04/05 was another busy year for North Coast as we put on some great events.

We ran ourselves ragged around Honeybush Drive in the road Duathlons. We alternated between high seas and perfect conditions during the 12 race Aquathlon series. The Max Grieve memorial run was contested as fiercely as ever for the “Big Chain Ring” trophy. The Tour de Lancelin was supported better than ever with many families making the trip. Two Club teams entered and completed the Wild West Bike Tour and brought home the inaugural “Wild West Tri Challenge” trophy. It was the season of WIT (Women in Triathlon) - a great introduction to Triathlon course run by Di Scott & Robyn Scott for women only. And finally after a long season we wound down (some more than others looking at the photos on the Club website) at the presentation dinner.

The co-existence arrangement set up to facilitate our Club sharing of the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club’s premises is one of the most significant milestones in the Club’s 11 year history. I ask the new committee to keep this process moving forward and ensure that North Coast is given fair consideration for space allocation when the new Club rooms are finally built.

Members were given a great range of activities to enjoy by the Club. The success of most of these must also be attributed to our sponsors. The great prizes and the general funding - increased the enjoyment of many of these activities.

Wayne McIntosh of Bikeforce Woodvale – thank you for your continued involvement in the Club and sponsorship of the Aquathlon Series.

Palandri Wines who donated sufficient wine to raise over $800 - funds well used to subsidize the cost of the Club cycle tops

Jeff Kemp of Retravision Osborne Park for contributing to the cost of producing the Club cycling top

Mal Cruickshank of Sun-Gard WA for sponsoring the prize at the Club Championships

Graeme Dix of Universal Publishing (UBD) for sponsoring the winter Duathlon series.

Aaron Newham of Outdoor Innovations Pergolas & Patios for also contributing to the cost of the new cycling tops

At this point I would like to acknowledge the endeavours of Wade Kelly in the securing of sponsors and in generally assisting with improving the marketability of the Club. Wade secured the Palandri sponsorship and also the most recent of our supporters BGC (Mark Bergin) who funded the creation of our wonderful website. Wade in his capacity as a partner of “The Marketing Mix” advertising agency developed and brought to market our new Club logo. He also funded the cost of producing the Wine tasting flyer and printing the posters. And The Marketing Mix courtesy of Wade continues to cover the cost of the website maintenance.

Many of us were also helped in no small way by our dedicated Club coaches. Run coach Mal “intervals” Cruickshank ran great training sessions during the summer. Swim coach James Harris coached year round at the Arena. His dedication is to be admired is spite of the sometimes minimal numbers attending his sessions during the winter months.

The TRYstars program flourished thanks to the dedication of Ann Blatchford, Frank Stephen and Ian Laycock. Well done to all members and parents in our club that assisted with supervising the training sessions and the races. All members are encouraged to support this program – this is where our future club champions are being nurtured.

Finally the season 2004/2005 is well and truly over and a new one begins. This signifies its time for this committee to step down. We achieved so much and this was only possible because of their dedication to the club – most often at the expense of their own programs. They were a wonderful team and have helped to really put North Coast on the map. Thank you to each and every one of you for your efforts and for the support you gave me.

While some of the committee have been nominated for re-election, there are a few that are stepping down after having done their fair share.

Wade Kelly, who did so much with sponsorship and patiently coped with juggling his mind set between corporate boardrooms and the low-key committee meetings held by the Club. Thanks for your support

Di Scott steps down after 3 years on the committee (2 as co secretary), was always relied on to cover all aspects of any decision process and was a great voice for female members of the Club.

Mike Wren (million miles an hour Mike) brought so much energy and enthusiasm to the table. Business commitments call as he tackles a national position.

Mal Cruickshank. 3 years on the committee 2 as co secretary and 1 as vice president. Probably one of the best all round administrators the Club as ever had on the committee. His will be big shoes to fill. He steps down reluctantly as he moves his home to Bridgetown.

Meredith Douglas. First year on the committee and straight away took on the secretary’s role. She was also a reliable voice for the ladies sector. I should note that Meredith has offered to be nominated again if all the vacancies are not filled. Thank you also Meredith with your help in the preparation of the AGM.

I will also be stepping down from the committee after serving for 7 years, 2 as treasurer, 1 as vice president and 3 as President.

As we step down we will look back with pride at having served on the Club’s committee and I know that that I speak for all when I say the experience was very satisfying.

Thank you
DAVID NORTON