Posted: August 10, 2004

Triathlon: Record Entry For Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman

The “Road to Ironman Australia” qualifying series will continue into Round Three on Sunday August 15, at the Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman Triathlon in Yeppoon, QLD.

With 75 qualifying slots for the 2005 Snap Ironman Australia triathlon up for grabs, this early season opportunity to secure positions for Ironman Australia has once again attracted record numbers of athletes and a stellar elite field.

Race headquarters for this unique destination race is the Rydges Capricorn Resort, about 45 minutes from Rockhampton in the delightful coastal town of Yeppoon.

At the close of early entries, just over a week out from the fifth anniversary event, there are 427 athletes heading for Yeppoon, compared to 417 entries in 2004 and 361 people who toed the start-line for the 2003 race. The race now has a continuing record of expansion for five years now with this years record number of volunteers from the local community helping to make the race possible.

Top seeds for the race are the defending champion, Accenture tour supremo, Courtney Atkinson, together with the prestigious Canberra Half Ironman champions, South Africa’s Nick Saunders and Canberra’s Sarah Fien.

Challengers of note include the Gloria Jeans NT Long Course Champ, and top ranked Ironman, South Australia’s Matt Stephens, Canberra’s Stu Shaw, ranked fifth in the Australian Long Course titles in 2002 and Victoria’s Niall McDonagh amongst others.

Last year’s women’s winner, Kate Major, is currently cutting a swathe through international races, having just won the rich Ironman Lake Placid, USA while 2003 place getters, Mitch Anderson and Nicole Rudan, are also overseas and doing well.

Even so, the Yeppoon battle for women’s honours is shaping as a sensation with Canberra’s Sarah Fien, challenged with a new race this year and by the consistent NSW rider, Lisa Maragon, Western Australia’s Kelly Mouttet, the ACTs Natalie Wood, stepping up from top placings in the 25-29 age group, and QLD’s Melissa Vandewater, currently ranked 18th in the world and just back from the USA.

Also heading for Yeppoon is Danielle Stephens (wife of Matt), second in the NT race last month and third in the 2003 Shepparton Half Ironman and a last minute entry has come in from Rebekah Keat, who has a plethora of long distance wins to her credit within Australia and around the world and is currently the girl to beat in Australia in any Half Ironman triathlon!

One elite athlete has this year stepped back to the age group ranks. 2002 winner and brand new mum, Katie Kenny, is rejoining the competition ranks as she begins a build up to full time competition again.

The race has this year again drawn athletes from around Australia, and New Zealand and Singapore and local athletes have also embraced the event with an unprecedented entry from local triathlon clubs in from Townsville in the north, Rockhampton and Gladstone in the south,

The Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman triathlon course is flat, fast and picturesque; times will be quick and the straight-line 1.9km swim sure to produce PBs, given the backing current!

The five-lap bike is level and quick and the Asics Half Marathon is consistently voted the best run in a Half Ironman in Australia.

There’s also so much do for the athletes’ support crew, with beaches, pools and a wide range of activities available within the Rydges Capricorn Resort.

Major Seeds:

Men:
Courtney Atkinson - QLD
Nick Saunders – South Africa
Matt Stephens – SA
Stu Shaw - ACT

Women:
Sarah Fien - ACT
Rebekah Keat QLD
Melissa Vandewater - QLD
Lisa Maragon - NSW