FOR a small club that has only been running 15 years, the Hawkesbury Triathlon Club knows how to make its name known on the big stage.
Four members of the club not only qualified to compete for Australia, but represented their country with distinction to record top 20 finishes at the ITU Triathlon World Champ- ionships on the Gold Coast earlier this month.
Club coach Greg Douglass had a vested interest in all four performances, not only racing impressively himself to pick up 13th place out of 60 in the 50-55 age group against athletes from 44 countries inc- luding Great Britain, USA, Netherlands, France and Mex- ico, but also mentoring his three clubmates to similarly impressive displays.
Carla Horwood produced a brilliant display in 50-55 age group to finish ninth out of 28 in a time of 1:19.54, Chris Cameron clocked 1:16.00 to be 17th in the 55-59s and Jen Hoffman came 16th in the 40-44s in 1:17 despite having only taken up the sport less than two years ago.
The four all competed in the sprint races of a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.
Douglass said it took some time to get going in such a large group of athletes, and despite hoping for a top 10, he was still pleased with his eff- orts at his second world titles.
"I was in probably one of the last waves to go out and I had a bit of a problem on the chan- geover to the bikes because of the heavy traffic of having those other groups in front of me, but then I finally got into a pack that was moving fast enough to catch everyone," Douglass said.
"I was 15th off the bike and I had a really good run ? I was hoping for a top 10 but that's the way it unfolded, there was just so many of us across the line together."
Horwood was delighted with her result at her maiden world championship, where she had set herself a goal of top 14.
"There's been lots of training, it's been four months with Greg working towards it and we've been at it pretty well non-stop," she said.
"I came in under the time I wanted ? I would have been happy to make the top half of my race and I made top third.
"I'm at the older end of my age group, and I was pretty happy all my training paid off.
"We were pretty spread out in our group, so we didn't have the regular bump and kick and hit that normally eventuates in a triathlon swim, which was good for me."
Like Horwood, Cameron was at the older end of the age scale in his category at almost 60, and also was delighted.
"It was a great experience being selected to represent your country," he said.
"I had a good swim, I got out in 16 minutes, and had a reasonable bike (39min) and very good run of 21 minutes.
"I was 17th in my age group and 420th overall in the world, which was pretty good for an old fella.
"It was a great privilege ? it put a bit of pressure on bec- ause you want to do the right thing by your country and put in your best effort to get a good result and I feel I couldn't have done any more.
"I just want to keep participating in triathlons and keep on keeping on and possibly win the 80-84 World Champ- ionships ? I haven't got that long to wait!"
With the other three having competed for more than 10 years, Hoffman was green in experience, but it didn't stop her taking it up to the best and proving that she could do anything she put her mind to.
"It wasn't the best race for me, but that's just the way it happens in this sport, sometimes you have a good day and sometimes you don't, but I'm reasonably happy," she said.
"I prepared really well and I have a really good coach.
"The atmosphere was fanta- stic, racing in green and gold and having people yelling out 'go little Aussie girl', and having family shouting at the finish line.
"I'm only new to triathlon, last season was my first, so to qualify to represent my country so soon was very exciting ? that was the main thing, just having the opportunity.
"Walking in the parade with hundreds of other Australian athletes in team uniforms and everybody shouting and screaming, watching all the other countries come in in all their uniforms ? it was a once in a lifetime experience.
"If I can do it, anyone can do it, and if anyone is thinking about giving it a go I encourage them to just go for it."
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