By Sally McLean
SHOWERS, savage conditions, epic endurance and a handful of mechanical mishaps made for a wet but memorable October for RCMC athletes.
On October 18, club members contested Ironman Port Macquarie and the annual Sanctuary Cove Century Ride before another rain-soaked weekend of racing at the Pottsville Tri Series on October 24.
At Ironman Port Macquarie, Kate Gayner, Kelly Phuah and David Murtagh raced as Sunny Queens and the Jester, finishing seventh overall from 93 teams in the 70.3 event and third in the mixed team’s category.
Christine Kinlay led the individual 70.3 results, winning her category from six competitors.
Phil Stoneman was second from 20, Rosemary Kimber seventh from 22 and Franco NC 13th from 71.
Kinlay’s category victory came despite a painful finish.
“They carted me away in a wheelchair to medical at the finish line. My feet were in excruciating pain,” she said.
In the full Ironman, Michael Pelka finished 48th from a field of 120.
Meanwhile, the Sanctuary Cove Century Ride delivered wind, rain, mechanical problems and six punctures across the group.
Shaun Lowry endured four punctures before eventually being forced to call it a day.
Barry Halliday, Greg Gunn, Chrissy Sands, Anne Oosthuizen, Adam C, Roger Fearnly, Steve Bartly, Peter Lizan and Thomas Edwards pressed on through the conditions.
For Oosthuizen, it was a birthday ride to remember, completing her longest-ever ride and recording a Strava personal best.
“Endless wind, multiple showers or rain, six punctures in the group and some mechanical problems,” she said.
The following weekend, heavy rain forced the cancellation of all swims at the Pottsville Tri Series because of unsuitable conditions.
That did not stop the RCMC contingent from collecting strong results, with Phuah taking first place in the sprint triathlon and Murtagh winning the long course aquabike.
Ann O’Brien added another major achievement, being crowned National Duathlon Champion after battling slippery roads, standing water and a course turnaround sign that had blown away.
It was an October defined by resilience.
From Ironman finish-line grit and national honours to birthday milestones, punctures and plenty of wet-weather determination.
