PHOTO SPECIAL - Summer storm fails to dampen the enthusiasm of these triathletes
Triathlon Australia, January 17, 2014: A fierce summer storm didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of hardy triathletes who braved driving rain and wind atMelbourne’s Elwood Beach on Sunday morning for the Oceania Cup and Australian Sprint Championships and ITU Paratriathlon run in conjunction with the third round of the Gatorade Series.
Super Sprint photographer Con Chroniswas just one of the hardy souls who traipsed around the course to capture some amazing images of the day.
Elwood LSC were also focused as they kept watch on swimmers forced to battle the choppy one metre waves, whipped up by a fierce on-shore wind.
It wasn’t a day for the faint-hearted but spare a thought for those Vision Impaired athletes, like Jonathon Goerlach and Paralympian Wendy Hou, who had to contend with a wave-swept swim course.
But Goerlach, who has his sights on making the team for Rio in 2016, knows it could well be a similar course atCopacabanaBeachif he makes the team in two years time.
VICTORY IN HER SIGHTS: Queensland’s Gillian Backhouse about to cross the finish line for a memorable victory.
ELATED: Gillian Backhouse raised the banner in victory.
TEARS OF JOY: Gillian Backhouse knows her hard work has paid off.
THREE WHEELER: The chase is on as the Elite Men chase down four-time Paratriathlon world champion Bill Chaffey.
SHADEY CUSTOMER: Queensland’s Dan Wilson crosses the line for a well deserved silver medal in the Elite Men’s race.
MATT FINISH: Emerging NSW Central Coast star Matt Baker delighted with his bronze medal finish.
GOT IT: Ryan Fisher had to pull out all stops to out sprint Dan Wilson to claim victory in the Elite Men’s race.
IN SAFE HANDS: The Elwood LSC patrol get some last minute instructions.
JELLY BELLIES: The next generation showing they know the way to the finish line.
IRON WILL: Former surf lifesaving star Kelly Ann Perkins shows she has the will to make a successful transfer to triathlon with her fourth place finish in the Elite Women’s race.
BITUMAN: This Korean competitor was down but not out after coming to grief on the slippy Elwood roadway.
TATTS NUMBER 96: Matthew Brumby happy with his bronze medal effort in the Paratriathlon Tri 1 Sitting category.
G TEAM: These Gatorade volunteers take shelter from the Elwood storm.
RIDE LIFE RIDE GIANT: The boys from the Giant team all smiles after their race.
PETE’S PELETON: Peter Kerr leads the chase group in the Elite Men’s race.
SMILE TIME : International stars Emily Pennock (CAN) and Barbarbara Riveros Diaz (CHI) happy to finish on the podium.
PODIUM PIC: Emily Pennock (CAN) Gillian Backhouse (AUS) and Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI)
SWIM EXIT: Matt Baker and Dan Wilson set their sights on transition.
EYES HAVE IT: Ryan Fisher dominated the swim.
FISH OUT OF W ATER: Ryan Fisher cools down after a well deserved win.
JACKO ON THE MOVE: Emma Jackson shows her flying feet from swim to bike.
NATURAL TALENT: Ironwoman-turned-triathlete Kelly Ann Perkins a worthy member of the National Talent Academy.
FISHER ON THE FLY: Ryan Fisher wastes no time getting on the road.
Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia
Ian Hanson
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