Geelong Ironman 70.3 – 1200 field limit

Entries continue to roll in for the new Snap Ironman 70.3 Geelong event set for February 10, 2008.

After deliberation with the Greater City of Geelong and the traffic management company it has been decided to place a 1200 athlete cap on the race field for this year. The breakdown will be 1050 individual athletes and 50 Kids Foundation teams event. If the demand for individual entries versus team entries is greater, the split will be adjusted accordingly.

Be sure to enter quickly to avoid disappointment on www.ironmanoz703.com

Chris Legh - Geelong Ironman 70.3 ambassador – training tips online now!

Log on to the Snap Ironman 70.3 Geelong website to view Ironman 70.3 specialist Chris Legh’s tips for the big race. Legh’s tips will be added to the site as the countdown to the February 10 race continues. Also, look out for Legh’s 8-week training program starting on December 17.

Go to www.ironmanoz703.com for Chris Legh’s tips

EROX - New Swim and wetsuit Sponsor for Snap Ironman 70.3 Geelong

EROX Australia is proud to announce its involvement the inaugural Snap Ironman 70.3 Geelong event as the swim leg and wetsuit sponsors of the race. EROX is increasing their support of triathlon events as well as athletes and feel that this is a great opportunity to be a part of such an exciting race. EROX has shown presence in triathlon, especially with the Cellsphere wetsuit, and they will be there to provide competitors with test wetsuits to find out first hand why this wetsuit is proving to be the fastest wetsuit on the market. To find out more on EROX wetsuits and products visit www.eroxaustralia.com

Accommodation in Geelong

Accommodation is available in the Geelong City Centre including the Official Hotels, The Mercure Hotel Geelong and The Quest Serviced Apartments.

For accommodation details and city information contact: ‘Visit Geelong’ on 1800 620 888

For travel packages including airfares, transfers and accommodation contact our official Travel Agent. Geelong’s own Tri Travel on 1800 22 50 22

For more information on Travel and Accommodation to Geelong visit www.ironmanoz703.com

Get set for City of Canberra Half Ironman

Held on December 16, the Canberra Half Ironman will host the next round of the Snap Half Ironman Series before Australian triathletes head to Geelong for the Ironman 70.3 Geelong - the final race of the series.

Back after a one year hiatus, the challenging event in Canberra returns with a similar swim, a changed bike course and a revised run from the event that signalled a breakthrough win for Leon Griffin in 2005.

The 1.9km swim will be a one lap course in Lake Burley Griffin, the 93km bike course over three laps is exciting and fast, and the run is now two laps of a clockwise course set on the banks of Canberra’s lake.

There’s a strong elite field forming and Griffin could be back to defend his title if he can first win a race against injury. Already heading to Canberra are Josh Rix, Bevan Leach and other stars of the series including Peter Schokman, looking to make it two wins from two starts in X-Tri events this season (he won in Yeppoon in August) and Klayten Smith, and organisers expect further calls this week as points are totalled from the Shepparton Half Ironman this past weekend.

The women’s field is also shaping well, pro athletes attracted by a purse of $7,500, including primes for fastest swim, bike and run, for the elite men and women.

Already many of the top age groupers have lodged their entries, looking to score both maximum individual and club points for the annual series and more are joining them daily now as X-Tri entertains a late surge of entries, following the opening of Lake Burley Griffin after a pollution scare.

“The lake is now fine, and the Triple –T was run successfully there last weekend,” says event Manager, Nick Munting. “We’re in contact with local health and NCA authorities re the ongoing situation, but it’s getting better daily and there are a further four events to be run in the lake before the Canberra Half Ironman.

“This year we are encouraging clubs to bring more members, fly their flag and we’re looking to them to add their club tents to the Annual Expo area. Already a number of Canberra based clubs have moved to run aid stations on the course, the core of the 250 volunteers needed to run the event,” said Munting.

The event has already attracted entries from every state and territory in Australia and from seven overseas countries, including Japan, Canada, Singapore and the Philippines.

  Early bird entry for the big event remains open until November 23 rd at www.canberrahalf.com. Late entries will close on December 3 rd for the event, set down for December 16 th.  The event also marks the second last race in which triathletes may validate their entry to the Panther’s Ironman Australia Triathlon, before the ‘grand finale’ in Geelong.

The Canberra City Half Ironman is open to both individual and team entries, and is supported by Australian Capital Tourism, Enervit, Aqua Shop/Blue Seventy, Tri Travel, Rydges, Aeromax, Erox, Conti Oceania, Tri Shave and TriathlonPhotos.com.

For further event details please contact Nick Munting – nick@x-tri.com.au or 0412 228 409

On an average day in Australia 5,000 children are injured in accidents and require medical treatment. The KIDS Foundation, established in 1993 is a Health Promotion Charity and national leader in childhood injury prevention and injury recovery. KIDS Foundation Injury Prevention delivers quality school and community based safety education programs that teach young people to responsibly manage risk to prevent childhood injuries and death. KIDS Foundation Injury Recovery provides programs and facilities for children with serious burns or life-changing injuries and support for their families and careers.

For the 5 th consecutive year, the KIDS Foundation is the nominated charity for the Panthers Ironman Australia Triathlon in Port Macquarie and now the Geelong 70.3. So why not put your training and effort towards a good cause as well and be in ‘Doing It for KIDS’?

Either Sign up for the individual DI4K and fundraise for KIDS Foundation. Or at the Geelong 70.3 you can also register to compete in a team at the KIDS Foundation Teams event.

At both events The KIDS team will help carry you over the finish line! In their streams of yellow in the village and along the course they will be your cheer squad, encouraging you over the line in return for you supporting them with your fundraising.

Doing It for KIDS Winner 2007 – George Mifsud of Cronulla.

“In 2007 I competed in my 2nd Australian Ironman but this was the first year I participated in “Doing it For KIDS”. Being part of the DOING IT FOR KIDS Team made it a truly memorable and extra satisfying race. Meeting some of the KIDS from the Foundation and receiving the support from the amazing team at the Foundation as I went about raising money gave me an extra lift and motivation during my training. I urge you and recommend that you also raise money for DOING IT FOR KIDS and I am sure that you will reap great personal satisfaction in addition to getting even greater support from your friends, work colleagues and family as you put in the hours and train for a really worthwhile cause.”

As an Ironman competitor KIDS would very much appreciate your support in Doing it 4 KIDS. Doing it 4 KIDS can make the journey so much more rewarding, knowing you are really making a difference to many survivors’ lives. 

Sign up now and start your fundraising early. Simply fill out the registration form online www.kidsfoundation.org.au You will then receive a kit that will contain everything to help with your fundraising and a few little goodies for yourself.

IMG would like to congratulate our new pro world champion Mirinda Carfrae on her outstanding performance at the recent Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Carfrae was joined by over 50 Australians who competed in the championship for the first time including new 50-54 age group world champion Kate Rowe.

Rounding off a great season was Aussie Craig Alexander who crossed the line in fourth place following on from his incredible second place in Kona just four weeks earlier.