MACCA IS WORLD IRONMAN CHAMPION Congratulations to five time Ironman Australia champion Chris McCormack in winning the Ironman World Championship. A big congratulations also to the brilliant performances of many of our Professionals, Craig Alexander-2nd, Kate Major-3rd, Rebecca Preston-5th, Rebekah Keat-6th, Belinda Granger-9th, Charlotte Paul- 16th, Luke McKenzie 19th, Alison Fitch-21st, Kate Bevilaqua-24th, Melissa Ashton-26th. These guys have certainly made the rest of the world take notice that Australia is one of the strongest if not the strongest Ironman nations in the world. Congratulations also to all the Aussie Age-group Ironman competitors who are the back-bone of our sport and combined with the Pros make us very proud to be Australian.
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Altered Run course for Panthers Ironman Australia The Run course will now be a three-lap circuit, which still encapsulates the picturesque rolling hills of Pacific Drive, the flat water pathways out to the beautiful Settlement Point and through the city centre for the benefit of spectators. The southern turn around point on Pacific Drive has been brought back from Harry’s Lookout to the Rocky Beach Lookout. The main advantage of this, one of several changes as a result of the 3 laps, is that runners will now share a shorter portion of the bike course with the cyclists. This makes for a neater, safer and better-lit course for the benefit of athletes and spectators alike. “We have resolved to alter the run course this year for logistical and safety reasons. The Police had concerns with those sections of the run course which are shared with cyclists. With these sections, lighting had also been a problem for us and less use of Pacific Drive means better lighting is possible and it also makes it safer and more user friendly for athletes,” says Race Director Ken Baggs. “The section of the previous run course from the Rocky Beach Lookout to Harry’s Beach Lookout was always the darkest part of the course. Eliminating that section makes the course safer overall but especially later into the evening” he added. “With the move to three laps we are able to take out the Warlters/Ashton/Bellbowrie Streets “loop” which makes for a clearer and more direct course with a great deal less logistical challenges “In making these changes we were mindful of the aspects of the course that attract athletes to Port Macquarie. The new course maintains the integrity of the event, still keeping the hills and the scenery, while reducing the risk to competitors. Over the years while the event was held in Forster, we tweaked that course on several occasions to improve the race and cater to the changing needs of the event and the community. We will continue to look for ways to improve and grow the event in Port Macquarie in the same way.” says Baggs The Panthers Ironman Australia is to be held on April 6, 2008, and is part of the worldwide Ironman series which culminates at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii each October. Ironman Australia has 70 qualifying spots on offer for the World Championship across all age groups. For more information on the new course changes and details about the Panthers Ironman Australia, visit www.ironmanoz.com
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