North Coast 2006 Winter Duathlon Series Race 2
Sunday 25th June 2006

Another bright sunny morning (how long can it last?) greeted a small but enthusiastic gathering of athletes for the 2nd of 5 Duathlons at Honeybush Drive.

With as few as 3 bikes in the transition area 20 minutes before race start, things looked grim but a late charge saw the field grow to 15 starters at the gun.

With Eddy Girvan side lined with a mystery virus he took charge of the starters hooter to send the field on their way. Quick out of the blocks were the usual suspects in Barry Silverlock, Lee Willison and Steve Jamieson with Paul Heyes, Wade Kelly and Norm Black in pursuit. Heading the women out onto the course proper were Ashley Davis, Kate Kelly and Sarah Black.

First back into transition after the 1.6 km run leg was the trio of Willison, Silverlock and Jamieson with the wily Silverlock stealing the march on his combatants thanks to a lighting fast transition using toe straps instead of cleats. Whilst Willison and Jamieson struggled to get their shoes on “young” Bazza left them 30 seconds in arrears as he took off on the first of twelve 730metre cycle laps. Next into transition were Kelly and Heyes about 30 seconds behind the leading bunch. First woman back in was Davis with Kelly hot on her heels.

Silverlock led for the first lap and ½ on the bike before being reigned in by the flying Willison and Jamieson, both sharing the breeze to catch Barry. This trio then settled down and worked together throughout remainder of the bike leg. Behind them a formidable group had bunched together consisting of Kelly, Heyes, Rob Lees and a hard working Greg McIntosh. The rest of the field was slugging it out on their own to complete this challenging leg, it included Norm Black, Craig Robertson, Dallas Dunlop, Rob Chitarra and Mark Bergin. On the penultimate lap on the bike Steve Jamieson made a break for transition and gained a lead of about 50 meters over Willison and Silverlock, but it was short lived after he was reeled in on the final straight.

Silverlock again got a healthy breakaway on his rivals, bounding strongly into the first of three 1.2 kms run laps. Heyes and Kelly were a further 90 seconds behind but looking to have plenty in the tank. Kate Kelly worked hard on the bike and made up ground on Davis to be first lady into transition but she took a tumble dismounting and lost vital seconds handing the lead back to Davis. Sarah Black was still on the bike working her butt off to make up ground on her rivals.

As Kelly made it onto the run course she was overtaken by a huge flying marsupial, startling itself and her in the process as it brushed passed her. Bounding towards the bridge this kangaroo then ran into a shocked Rob Lees and after eyeballing him from a short distance, took off into the bush. Had Lees been wearing his heart rate monitor it would have gone off the dial. The roo received an automatic DQ for leaving the dual access pathway.

Back to the leading group, with the long striding Willison having cracked Silverlock on the first of the three run laps however a gutsy Bazza stayed determinedly with him for the remainder of the race. Not far back Jamieson started to feel the effects of a solid ride and was beginning to fade on his run and was passed by a fresh looking Wade Kelly. Paul Heyes was doing his best to hang on to the leading group in his first race back after a lengthy spell. Several of the competitors were displaying improved performances since their fist outings a fortnight ago, those included Dunlop and Robertson.

In a tight finish to the race Lee Willison came across the line first in a time of 37.08 with Barry Silverlock second (37.21) and a fast finishing Wade Kelly third (37.32). A vastly improved Steve Jamieson came in exhausted in fourth (37.57). First across the line in the women’s category after a tight struggle was Ashley Davis (48.33) followed by Kate Kelly (49.38).

All in all it was a strongly contested event. Considering the results of the first race the series winner could come from any one number of well-credentialed athletes. Thanks go out to all those who contributed to the event by way of course set up, registration, marshalling and dismantling the course on completion.

Thanks also to our naming rights sponsor Graeme Dix of UBD and also to Feature Frames and Crown Roofing.

A reminder that the next event is next Sunday 2 July 2006 at Honeybush. Be there and support your club and make this a successful series. Be early.

For full results click here

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