Echuca-Moama triathletes test their mettle in Geelong Ironman

By Josh Huntly

Feb 22, 2022

Experienced: Rebecca Cladingboel raced in her third Geelong Ironman on Sunday, placing second in her age group. Photo: Josh Huntly.

From first-timers to experienced heads, Echuca-Moama Triathlon Club (EMTC) athletes were up for the challenge of the gruelling Ironman 70.3 in Geelong on Sunday.

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Nine EMTC triathletes made the journey to Geelong to attempt the 1.9km swim around Corio Bay, 90km bike ride and a half-marathon run to finish in pristine conditions.

Troy Bauerle was the first of the EMTC athletes over the line in a time of 4:46:57, 144th overall out of 720 competitors and 11th in the male 45-49 age bracket.

Rebecca Cladingboel finished in the top 20 of the women’s race, and second in the F35-39 category with a time of 4:52:57 in her third Geelong Ironman event.

“(It) was probably some of the best conditions I’ve raced in at the event,” Cladingboel said.

“Often it can be quite windy as well on the bike course, but it was only around 4km/h or 6km/h.

“Everyone did really well, and it’s great because a lot of families were down as well.

“At every bend there was someone you knew cheering you on.”

The triathlon was a good “lead-in” to start the year for Cladingboel as she eyes an even bigger challenge in 2022 — the 10th edition of the Cairns Ironman.

She will make the journey up to Far North Queensland in June to tackle the event, with a 3.8km swim, 180km bike course and a 42.2km run to greet competitors.

“I’ve just started a big training block aiming towards Cairns,” Cladingboel said.

“There’s a few long months to go.

“It felt really good knowing I did quite well (at Geelong), and my training will start to ramp up from here.”

EMTC’s Karen Griffiths stepped up for her debut half-Ironman, crossing the finish line with a time of 5:35:45.

Griffiths admitted to experiencing self-doubt in the lead-up to the daunting triathlon, but the Echuca 208 teacher defied her demons to ensure a strong finish to the event.

Particularly in the F40-44 age group, where she finished eighth.

“I was actually quite emotional, to be honest, when I crossed the finish line,” Griffiths said.

“I had a lot of self-doubt at times about it. I’ve done a few Echuca triathlons but nothing like the half-Ironman.

“I wasn’t sure if I was prepared enough for it fitness-wise, but I was stoked to be able to do it.”

Training twice a week on the bike and in the water, Griffiths — coming from a strong cycling family — was tentative about her prospects in the 90km cycle.

“It got to September and I thought I better start training on the bike,” Griffiths said.

“I’m a bit of a runner and I don’t mind a swim, but the bike was certainly the challenge.

“Coming from a family of cyclists, I thought I’d give the 90km a crack.

“The conditions were ideal and I was praying during the week that it wouldn’t be windy.”

Scott Foreman, Blake Taverna, Jacob Guinan, Simon Mason, Kate Barlow, and David Oman rounded out a strong showing for EMTC down in Geelong, with Matt Sullivan forced to retire from the race.

Two-time winner Sam Appleton claimed his third victory in the men’s race with a time of 3:41:15, while Lotte Wilms crossed the finish the line with a time of 4:07:41 to take out the women’s event.