Run, swim, bike the coast a big hit

ELITE Energy and their CEO Mark (Emo) Emerton brought their swim, run, bike event to Bass Coast last weekend, and both organisers and competitors alike loved what they saw at the staging point in Inverloch.

While most of the competitors were visitors to the area, there was a liberal sprinkling of local triathletes and runners, as well as local kids, who took part in one or all of the disciplines.

And the locals performed strongly with Inverloch’s Adam Bellairs winning the marathon in a time of 3:13:02 from Jacob Sims 03:14:50 and Sean McGrath 03:15:56. First across the line in the women’s marathon was Hollie Lutz of Langwarrin in the time of 04:11:54 from Christine Hill 04:37:47 and Carmel Pardy 04:45:25.

Half marathon winner was Will Gordon 01:18:44 from Andrew Moldrich 01:19:06 and Richard O’Donoghue 01:19:50. Female placegetters were Sarah Howe 01:26:51, Jo Stavers 01:42:10, and Jayde O’Brien 01:43:05.

In other running events; 10km winners were Jess Dunsmore 00:32:01 and Emilie Cutler 00:38:56, the 5km winners were Ollie Dean 00:20:54 and Tiarnie Ellingworth 00:21:08, while the 2km races were won by Lawson Hawking 00:07:21 and Vivienne Hawkesford 00:11:44.

All runners praised the course and its route along the coast, towards Cape Paterson and back again.

One of those placed highly in their age groups was Tom Gibson of Inverloch who completed the swim on Saturday and marathon run on Sunday, his second marathon, since his first 38 years ago.

“I set a more realistic pace this time around and got through it pretty well,” said Tom after the race.

“The hardest part was coming in here (to The Glade) the first time around and having to go out for another lap,” he said.

Tom Gibson has been invited to compete in his age group at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Finland later this year, over a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 214km run course.