Competitors battle heat in marathon effort
Ironmen: Ralph Flowers and Tim Wiesse competed in all five legs of the marathon. |
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Donnybrook Bridgetown Mail, Wednesday, 24 November 2004MORE than 250 competitors battled the heat on Saturday to take part in the 13th Solahart Donnybrook Marathon relay.
Those completing the 1.4 kilometre swim leg said they thought they were luckiest as temperatures hit 32 degrees.
Although numbers were down from last year, marathon committee members said they were happy with the 44 entries (261 competitors).
Ironman entries numbered only two and only one woman entered the ironwoman category.
Marathon president Chris Cain said it was possible the international ironman event in Busselton next weekend may have been the cause of this.
Ironman record holder Tony Tucknott of Perth was unable to compete this year, however, an entrant on the morning, Tim Wiese of Narrogin, did so and took the title in a time of five hours, 24 minutes and 31 seconds from Ralph Flowers of Perth in a time of 5:42.08.
This was behind the record time of 4:19.03.
'This is the first time I have done the iron man 'Wiese said 'and because the date is around harvesting time, it is hard for me to fit this event in.'
'It certainly is a very tough event, more so than any other event I have entered, and with heat, made it even tougher.'
'But hopefully circumstances permitting, I will be back next year.'
The only ironwoman entry, Sarah Wiese (Tim's wife), also entered this category for the first time, although she did compete while six months pregnant last year in team Harvest Widows so had some idea of the course.
'It certainly is so much harder as ironwoman completing the whole event, and although it was so very hot, I enjoyed the day and would like to be back next year,' she said.
Her time was 5:33.56, behind the record of 4:41.05.
First local team to cross the line in a time of 5:46.27 were six young people who entered under the name of Unprepared, however, the name did not by any means do them an injustice.
The team, which was gathered together in the week leading up to the marathon and hence the name, consisted of Chelsea Hatch (power walk), John Hearman (cycle), Scott Fry (mountain bike), Brendon Fry (run), Glen Stewart (canoe) and Jo Gregg (swim) said their aim was 'to beat the oldies' local team.
Scott Fry said he found the mountain bike ride very tough.
Brendon Fry said he found the heat off the road during the end of the run home made it tougher for his section of the event.
Following winners were :
Open section: Team 40 Team Ascot of Bunbury in a time of 4:10.52 (record is 3:35.34) second was team 36 Up and Coming from Albany in 4:29.10.
Corporate section: Team 22 South Metro High Speed Burnouts from Perth in a time of 5:30.26 (record is 4:10.00) Team 12 Maxim of Perth in a time of 5:37.45.
Veteran section: Team 31 Mission Impossible of Perth in a time of 5:21.26 (record is 3:57.53) Team 19 David Abbott of Perth in a time of 5:30.07.
Super vets: Only team Flying Femmes/Hairy Hommes of Perth in a time of 6:08.09.
Women's section: Team 13 MuMu's of Perth in a time of 5:10.14 (record is 4:29.32)
Team 18 Femme Fatale of Perth in a time of 5:12.27.
School section winner: Team 16 Bunbury Cathedral Grammar Red in a time of 5:59.28 (record is 4:41.05) Team 17 Bunbury Cathedral Grammar Gold in a time of 6:01.58.
Because of the change in format this year times will appear to differ greatly.
Fastest individual times were:
Cycle 34kms (previous 30kms): 00:55.32 Andrew Mackie team Mission Impossible (record is 00:40.48 in 2001).
Walk 8.5kms (previous 5kms): 00:53.52 Peter Wutchak team Thirty Somethings (record is 00:22.47 in 1995).
Canoe 7kms (no change): 00:32.04 Ian Hart of Up and Coming (record is 00:22.37. in 2001).
Swim 1.4kms (no change): 00:30.54 Nic Bowey of Team Ascot (record is 00:16.46 in 1997).
Mountain bike 20kms (previous 28kms): 00:41.26 Tim Bennett of Team Ascot (record is 1:02.16 in 2001).
Run 12.1kms (previous 12kms): 00:42.12 David Hind of Magnificent 6 (record is 00:39.04 in 1997).
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