2008 PANTHERS IRONMAN AUSTRALIA TV SHOW – SATURDAY 10 MAY

Make sure you set aside some time to check out the 2008 Panthers Ironman Australia TV Show on SATURDAY 10 MAY at 12.30pm (please check local guides). To be broadcast on the Nine Network throughout Australia.

$50,000 WORLD RECORD BONUS

It created a buzz and got hearts pumping for different reasons last year, so it’s back again in 2008 – the $50,000 world record bonus.

IMG and Eventscorp Western Australia are proud to announce the bonus will continue at the 2008 Ironman Western Australia Triathlon on Sunday 7 December.

The men’s world record is held by Belgium’s Luc Van Lierde in 7:50:27, which he performed at the height of his career in 1997 in Germany.

The women’s fastest time is owned by the legendary Paula Newby-Fraser in 8:50:53.

Ironman Western Australia is considered the ideal event for elite competitors to chase the world record, with the fast, flat course wind-protected for much of the distance.

Many consider Ironman Western Australia to be the fastest Ironman course in the world, and the return of the $50,000 bonus will ensure another world-class field at the event.

AUSTRALIAN ULTRA DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS MOVE TO IRONMAN WESTERN AUSTRALIA IN 2008

IMG are pleased to announce that the 2008 Ironman Western Australia Triathlon will hold the title of the 2008 Australian Ultra Distance Championships. After 21 years of the being run in conjunction with the Ironman Australia Triathlon on the East Coast the Championship will now move to Busselton on the West Coast and become part of the Ironman Western Australia event.

With Ironman Western Australia we now have another successful ultra distance race, and with the support and agreement of Triathlon Australia, the Australian Ultra Distance Championships will now rotate between the two Ironman events” said IMG Athletics Director, Dallas O’Brien.

Ironman Australia and Ironman Western Australia Race Director Ken Baggs added, “Triathlon Australia have supported these Championships all these years and have provided the separate Championship Medals. As the Championships are recognised by Triathlon Australia as an ‘open’ championship, the Ironman winners (Professional and Age Group), irrespective of nationality are also recognised as the Australian Ultra Distance Champions”.

“As such, Triathlon Australia uniquely award the Jim Hazell Perpetual Trophies to the first Australian Professionals (Male and Female) to cross the Finishline and they are generally accepted as the Australian Champions”, finished Baggs.

“We are pleased to be able to continue to support and work with the Ironman events in this way and look forward to our continuing positive working relationship with IMG, the Ironman Organisers” said Ken Bonham, President Triathlon Australia.

AUSTRALIAN HALF IRONMAN SERIES - BUSSELTON HALF IRONMAN TRIATHLON - MAY 3, 2008

Jacobs and Keat win in Busselton

The home of Ironman Western Australia, Busselton, was buzzing yesterday as Pete Jacobs claimed his fourth Busselton Half Ironman title in a stunning display. Joining him on the winner’s dais was 2007 Ironman Australia champion Rebekah Keat.
 
Leading from start to finish, Jacobs set a blistering pace in the swim exiting almost 2 minutes ahead of his nearest rivals, Western Australia’s Sean O’Neill and Josh Rix from Victoria.  Peter Loveridge exited the water in third place but once out onto the bike course, Jacobs quickly stamped his authority.
 
The bike course at the Busselton Half Ironman has been changed to mimic the Ironman route, allowing athletes an opportunity to experience the course and this paid dividends for Jacobs. As he had done in the December Ironman event, he led from the swim and built an unassailable lead on the bike. Only Victoria’s Mitch Anderson, fresh from a second placing at April’s Ironman Australia, rode faster than Jacobs.
 
Although Loveridge easily had the fastest half marathon time of the day it wasn’t enough to stop Jacobs who crossed the line in 3:50:01. Loveridge was 2:33 behind followed by Anderson who rounded out the podium positions.
 
Queensland’s Rebekah Keat again showed her dominance of the Half Ironman distance in Australia. Recovering from a leg injury that forced her withdrawal from Ironman Australia, Keat produced an excellent performance to hold off Claire Goldsmith and reigning Ironman Western Australia champion Charlotte Paul.
 
Belinda Brooks led the field from the water onto the bike leg but it took Keat just a few kilometres to find her rhythm on the bike and she built a lead of over 3 minutes heading into the last transition. With limited run training under her belt, Keat still maintained her healthy lead finishing 2:36 ahead of Goldsmith and over 10 minutes ahead of Paul.
 
936 athletes from around Australia competed in the first race of the Australian Half Ironman series. Every athlete who completed the Half Ironman distance is now eligible to enter the 2009 Ironman Australia. Entries for Ironman Australia open in June and there are six Ironman Australia validating races including the Busselton Half Ironman, Capricorn Half Ironman, Gold Coast Half Ironman, Port Macquarie Half Ironman, Shepparton Half Ironman, Canberra Half Ironman and the final of the series, the Geelong Ironman 70.3.
 
For more information on the Australian Half Ironman Series contact:
Shane Smith at shane@sport3.com.au or Ken Baggs at kenbaggs@ironmanoz.com 
 
Busselton Half Ironman Triathlon
May 3, 2008
Men’s results:

   1    JACOBS, Pete    3:50:01    0:22:50    2:07:55    1:17:05   
   2    LOVERIDGE, Peter    3:52:34    0:24:44    2:11:05    1:14:30   
   3    ANDERSON, Mitchell    3:56:08    0:25:20    2:06:52    1:21:19   
   4    O'NEILL, Sean    4:00:18    0:24:32    2:11:24    1:22:13   
   5    RIX, Josh    4:00:58    0:24:33    2:08:37    1:25:23  
 
Women’s results:

   1    KEAT, Rebekah    4:14:17    0:26:01    2:23:08    1:22:32   
   2    GOLDSMITH, Claire    4:16:43    0:26:35    2:26:32    1:20:56   
   3    PAUL, Charlotte    4:24:42    0:28:14    2:28:27      
   4    JARRETT, Kelly    4:27:19    0:32:57    2:23:57    1:27:11   
   5    WARD, Nicole    4:30:15    0:26:38    2:31:39    1:29:05