Posted: December 7, 2004

Triathlon: World Class Field For Canberra City Half Ironman

From: Nick Munting

The penultimate round of the Ironman Australia qualifying series, the 2004 edition of the Canberra City Half Ironman has attracted a record elite field, from around the world, for the fifth anniversary event in Canberra on December 12th.

No fewer than four international Ironman race winners, an Australian Olympian, three international stars and national champions, plus representation from all around Australia have allowed organisers to grow the race in excess of 100 starters from the 2003 race to over 900 competitors for the 2004 event.

The women's elite field lists four Ironman winners in Belinda Halloran from NSW (formerly from Canberra), Susan Peter from South Australia and Canada's Marilyn Macdonald - all of whom have won an Ironman Malaysia race in recent years! Add in Gold Coast based Yoko Okuda, a winner in Ironman Japan, plus defending Canberra Half Ironman champion, Sarah Fien, 2002 winner, Perth’s Angela Milne, and the Accenture Tour's Nikki Egyed and the women's field is looking set as the race of the season. With added strong entries from Lisa Maragon, Melanie Rassam, and the arrival of three times Swedish national short course champion, Lisa Norden, spectators are assured of a great women's event.

In the men's field most eyes will be on Canberra Olympian, Simon Thompson and super quick Canberran, Stuart Bardsley plus a brace of young up and coming athletes in Kane Malherbe (VIC), Nick Hornman, (NSW) and Nathan Cambell (QLD). Challenging the youngsters are world Duathlon Champion, Jonathan Hall, Aussie international, Bevan Leach and top five ranked Ironman, Chris McDonald, originally from Australia but racing for New Zealand.

The elite field will be racing for an Australian half Ironman record of $10,000 in prize money, while the age groupers also have major incentive. Along with 200 qualifying spots for the 2005 Snap Ironman Australia triathlon, topping the prize list is an awesome holiday for TWO, with flights and accommodation, to the Cook Islands from Tri Travel and the Rarotonga Triathlon! This is a must have end of season break and also allows the winner to enter the local triathlon too!

There's also a chance for every one finishing the race to win wither a pair of Rotor Cranks, or a Compex EMS product, each worth $900-00. And one competitor will go home with a complete set of Spinervals DVD’s worth $600.

Great products from Asics, High 5 and AquaShop (Ironman Wetsuits) will complete an awesome prize structure and there are trophies for the age groups podium and recognition of the outright age groupers too!

The age group field includes nearly 900 athletes ranging in age from 18-year-old Andrew Lumb (VIC) to 70-year-old Peter Keeble from NSW.

The entire field will be chasing the race primes, with $250 plus products for the fastest swimmer, cyclist and runner.

The fifth anniversary Canberra City Half Ironman triathlon commences at 6:30am on December 12th with the winner expected to cross the Commonwealth Park, Canberra finish line around 10:30am on the day.

Women's Elite Field:
Sarah FIEN ACT Australia
Lisa MARANGON NSW Australia
Nikki EGYED QLD Australia
Melanie RASSAM NSW Australiav Lisa NORDEN Sweden
Belinda HALLORAN NSW Australia
Susan PETER SA Australia
Angela MILNE WA Australia
Kirsten MOLLOY NSW Australia
Yoko OKUDA Japan
Kerry KNOWLER ACT Australia
Marilyn MACDONALD Canada

Men's Elite Field:
Simon THOMPSON ACT Australia
Bevan LEACH NSW Australia
Kane MALHERBE VIC Australia
Nathan CAMPBELL QLD Australia
Jonathan HALL NSW Australia
Stuart BARDSLEY NSW Australia
Nick HORNMAN NSW Australia
Matthew LONERGAN NSW Australia
Andre LE GERCHE VIC Australia
Chris MCDONALD New Zealand 

The race website is at: www.ironmanoz.com.