ARTICLE: Omaha Triathlon to host Midwest Regional Paratriathlon Championships

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Triathlon has been selected to host regional championships for the next two years.

Omaha television station KETV (http://bit.ly/W41u8r ) reports the city will host the 2013 and 2014 Midwest Region Championship and Paratriathlon Championship during its Omaha Triathlon. USA Triathlon and city officials made the announcement Monday.

The Omaha Triathlon will be held July 21 at Lake Cunningham.

Officials say athletes from around the Midwest will participate in the triathlon in order to qualify for the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championship.

The Omaha Triathlon is expected to have more than 1,000 participants.  See http://www.raceomaha.com for more details.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Omaha-Triathlon-to-host-regional-championships-4194409.php#ixzz2I2y8DI2k

ARTICLE - Chaffey makes history in Australia

Triple para-triathlon world champion Bill Chaffey won the inaugural title on Thursday (10 January) at the first-ever Australian Para-Triathlon National Championships at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith.

Competing in the Tri-1 class for athletes who use wheelchairs, Chaffey had his work cut out for him when he found himself pitted against his hero, Paralympian and Hawaiian Ironman Hall of Fame inductee John Maclean, and London Paralympic rowing silver medallist Erik Horrie, in the race for the first national title.

But Chaffey dominated the 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run, setting up a considerable lead in the swim and bike legs to push to victory almost 10 minutes ahead of Maclean and Horrie.

“Normally, my best leg is the swim but I struggled a little bit with sighting today,” Chaffey told the Australian Paralympic Committee.

“Still came out with a good swim time but I felt really strong in the bike today. It’s a nice, smooth course, so it was good to get some speed up.”

The man from New South Wales’ Far North Coast is a dominant force on the world para-triathlon circuit, having won the 2009, 2011 and 2012 world titles, and winning silver in 2010. The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where para-triathlon will make its debut, is now in his sights.

Before para-triathlon, Chaffey was a heavy hitter in the national triathlon circuit when in 2004, he was hit by a truck while training for his first Ironman competition. He was left with significant injuries including a paralysed leg.

Shortly after the accident, Chaffey got in touch with John Maclean, the man who made history by becoming the first wheelchair athlete to finish the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon. Maclean was paralysed in a similar accident while training for a triathlon and offered some words of advice that changed Chaffey’s life.

“He actually rang me after I sent him an email and gave me the inspiration I needed,” said Chaffey.

“Looking at him as an ironman hall of famer, first person in a wheelchair to complete Hawaii, it’s something to look up to and it’s a proud feeling that he’s an Aussie. He kicked the sport off and I hope I can follow in his footsteps, or wheel treads.”

For Maclean, competing at the first para-triathlon in Australia was an honour.

“I was part of ITU (International Triathlon Union) back in 1996 and there weren’t too many wheelchair athletes involved back then. It’s great to see the sport has evolved at a Paralympic level,” said Maclean.

“I think you’ll find now that it’s a Paralympic sport, you’re going to get a lot of top athletes crossing over – a lot of top swimmers, hand-cyclists and wheelchair racers. I would suggest the standard now is only going to go vertical, which is encouraging for the sport and gives Bill something to aim for.”

Nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Louise Sauvage competed in her first triathlon as the only female wheelchair competitor, but she was quick to rule out a comeback.

“Absolutely not. No Rio,” said Sauvage.

“I’m sure I’ll do another triathlon for sure, but not a comeback.”

Six-time Paralympic winter gold medallist Michael Milton was the only competitor in the Tri-2 class for above-the-knee amputees and, having completed his third para-triathlon, was excited by what the sport has to offer.

“Post cancer in 2007, I suffer a lot of fatigue and I find when I go off the ball fitness-wise, that really kicks in and hits me quite hard,” Milton said. “This motivates me to stay fit and look for new and interesting things to do to challenge myself and stay healthy.”

“Coming from cycling, being a reasonable swimmer and really enjoying the running side of things, it seemed like the perfect match to help motivate me to stay fit for life.

World championship cyclist turned para-triathlon Claire Maclean won the women’s Tri-4 class for athletes with arm impairment, beating Sally Bilbeam by almost 19 minutes, while Dale Grant edged out dual Paralympic cycling gold medallist Peter Brooks in the men’s Tri 4 division by 2:21.00.

Albury’s Justin Godfrey won the men’s Tri-5 class for below-the-knee amputees in a time of 1:10.32, 8:30.00 ahead of Ross Mason and Damon Kendrick.

In the vision impaired classes, Jonathan Goerlach finished 7:38.00 in front of John Domandl and Nathan Johnstone, while Paralympic cycling gold medallist Lindy Hou was the only competitor in the women’s class and posted a finishing time of 1:29.24.

Athletes will now train for the upcoming Para-Triathlon World Championships to be held in London this September.

Article from - http://www.paralympic.org/news/chaffey-makes-history-australia

ARTICLE - CHAFFEY WINS FIRST AUSTRALIAN PARATRIATHLON TITLE

Triathlon, January 11, 2013: The Gold Coast’s three-time ITU World champion Bill Chaffey displayed all of his world champion qualities to win the inaugural Australian Paratriathlon Championship at Sydney’s International Regatta Centre, Penrith today.

Chaffey took out the Tri 1 category ahead of his hero, Sydney’s 46-year-old legendary Paralympian John Maclean and London Paralympic rowing silver medallist Erik Horrie.

Chaffey, 37, swam strongly and was one of the first out of the water after the 750m swim before taking control with a powerful 20km bike leg and finishing off with a slick 5km wheelchair ride in a time of 1 minute 02.58 secs, with Maclean (1:12.06) holding off Horrie (1:12.38).

The former Bilambil Heights champion triathlete was left seriously injured on a training ride when he suffered four broken bones in his back, and broken elbows and pelvis, after an accident between a light truck and his bike on near Chinderah in 2005 – leaving him a paraplegic.

Chaffey will now set himself for the Cairns Ironman Triathlon on June 9 in an all-out effort to qualify for his first Hawiian Ironman Triathlon, before the ITU World Championships in London in September and his long term goal to contest the first ever Paratriathlon at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Other winners on the day were: Men’s Tri 2: Michael Milton (Ainslie, ACT); Men’s Tri 4: Dale Grant (Mount Waverley, VIC); Men’s Tri 5: Justin Godfrey (Albury, NSW); Men’s Tri 6: Jonathan Goerlach (North Nowra, NSW); Women’s Tri 3: Debbie Wendt (Morayfield, QLD); Women’s Tri 4: Claire McLean (Carlisle, WA) and Women’s Tri 6: Lindy Hou (Hawker, ACT).

Article from:  http://hansonmediagroup.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1242&Itemid=36

ARTICLE - Legends Line Up for Paratriathlon

AUSTRALIAN PARATRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS

Where: Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith

When: Friday, January 11, 2013

Time: 7am

The names Louise Sauvage, Michael Milton, John Maclean and Bill Chaffey are synonymous with some of the most amazing feats achieved by Australian sportsmen and women – inspirations to so many who have followed their stories over two decades of Paralympic triumphs.

And they will all now come together on one sporting stage to celebrate the first ever Australian Paratriathlon Championships at Penrith’s Sydney International Regatta Centre (Race start 7am).

Paralympian and Olympian Sauvage, now 39, is regarded as Australia’s greatest wheelchair athlete – winning 11 gold and four silver medals at four Paralympic and two Olympic Games between 1992 and 2004.

Veteran Penrith-based Paralympian, three-time Hawaiian Ironman triathlete, swimmer and Paralympic rower Maclean at 49 will join Sauvage in the Tri 1 category.

Maclean has been an inspiration to Paralympians world wide with his extraordinary career including three Hawaiian Ironman Triathlons – the last one in 1997 where he beat a third of the field and became the first ever wheelchair category winner.

Friday’s course will see championship competitors swim 750m; Handcycle (for Paraplegic, Quadriplegic, Polio, Double Leg Amputee on the bike course) for 20km and wheelchair for 5km.

Six-time Paralympian and six-time gold medallist, 39-year-old Milton, will line up for the same distances in the Tri 2 category (For severe leg impairment including above knee amputees. Athlete must ride bicycle and run with above knee prosthesis (or similar prosthesis) or run using crutches).

Milton has contested the last two ITU World Paratriathlon Championships in Beijing in 2011 and Auckland in 2012 – his best result coming in Beijing, where he finished fourth.

But the man to beat in the Tri 1 category will be then Gold Coast’s three-time ITU Paratriathlon World Champion Chaffey, who at 37, will be out to add the National crown to his impressive list of achievements in the Tri 1 class (750m, 20km, 5km).

Chaffey has been the dominant force in the Tri 1 category – winning his three world titles on the Gold Coast in 2009, Beijing in 2011 and Auckland in 2012 – and he is determined to add his name to the Paralympian honour role when the sport makes its debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The six classifications for Paratriathlon cater for athletes with a vision impairment or physical impairment (such as spinal or nerve injury, limb loss or limb deficiency, cerebral palsy or other similar disability).

The onset of Paratriathlon making its debut at the next Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro has given the sport a huge boost and organisers are delighted with the response.

“The National Championships for Paratriathlon is another exciting addition to our calendar and we are pleased to see so many great names, as well as the current champions, like triple ITU World Champion Bill Chaffey in the field,” said Triathlon CEO Anne Gripper.

“To witness first hand the Paratriathlon events at the last two ITU World Championships in Beijing and Auckland has been amazing and Australia has so many great athletes who are working hard at a sport that certainly has its challenges.

“Friday will be a red-letter day for the sport of Triathlon and a very exciting day all round.”

Sauvage, who has taken up a coaching role for wheelchair athletes at the NSWIS since retiring after the 2004 Athens Paralympics, will line up in one of her few triathlons.

“I have done a few individual legs and a couple of smaller triathlons but when I saw the first National Championship I thought why not?” said Sauvage, who has undergone some rigorous training under Olympic water polo gold medallist Bec Rippon.

“Bec and I have been great mates over a long time and she has been coaching me both in the pool and in the gym but don’t get any thoughts of a comeback for Rio, I just want to complete a Paratriathlon.

“But it’s more than fun, I’ve always been a competitive person and I always will be.

“I have been ringing Bill (Chaffey) constantly to get as many tips as I can. He’s probably sick of the sound of my voice.”

Article from: http://www.triathlon.org.au/State_Associations/NSW/About_Us/Latest_News/Legends_Line_Up_For_Paratriathlon.htm

ARTICLE - Debut for Paralympic triathletes in first ever Australian paratriathlon championships

PENRITH'S John Maclean will lead a list of Paralympic sporting legends in the first Australian paratriathlon championships at the Sydney International Regatta Centre on Friday.

Maclean, a veteran Paralympic rower, three-time Hawaiian Ironman triathlete and swimmer, will join Paralympic great Louise Sauvage and three-time International Triathlon Union paratriathlon world champion Bill Chaffey in the Tri 1 category. Six-time Paralympic gold-medallist Michael Milton will line up over the same distances in the Tri 2 category.

The event will debut at the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil.

``The national championships for paratriathlon is another exciting addition to our calendar and we are pleased to see so many great names, as well as the current champions like triple ITU world champion Bill Chaffey in the field,'' Triathlon Australia chief executive Anne Gripper said.

``To witness first-hand the paratriathlon events at the last two ITU world championships in Beijing and Auckland has been amazing, and Australia has so many great athletes who are working hard at a sport that certainly has its challenges.

``(Today) will be a groundbreaking day for the sport of triathlon.''

The six classifications for paratriathlon cater for athletes with a vision impairment or physical impairment.

FRIDAY'S EVENTS

AUSTRALIAN PARATRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS: 7am

AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR SERIES: 9am, ITU youth (13-15) females; 9.45am, ITU youth males; 10.45am, ITU junior (16-19) females; 11:45am, ITU junior males

NB: Race changes are under consideration because of the heat

Article from: http://penrith-press.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/debut-for-paralympic-triathletes-in-first-ever-australian-paratriathlon-championships/#

ARTICLE - Racer Liz gunning for glory across Europe

AFTER a super 12 months, athlete Liz McTernan is targeting success at home and abroad in 2013.

The 47-year-old competes in paratriathlon – a type of triathlon for athletes with a physical disability.

McTernan, who is a member of Cleethorpes Athletic Club, was delighted with her performances in 2012 – which included a third-place finish in the Paratriathlon World Championships in New Zealand.  This year she will compete in at least six countries in a sport that has steadily grown in popularity.

The resident of Grimoldby, near Louth, has a spinal cord injury and took part in her first race in 2011. She has progressed a lot in a short space of time and is now one of the best around.

She explained: "I compete on the domestic paratriathlon calendar, but there are very few women who take part in the sport.

"This year I will be competing in France, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy and the Netherlands.

"Swimming is my strong point, I had a decent background in that before I started paratriathlon.

"I still have a lot to work on with the wheelchair racing element. There is a lot of technique involved".

Paratriathlon follows the same pattern as standard triathlon and is held over similar courses and distances.

For the 'bike' section, McTernan uses a handcycle whereby the competitor is laid almost right back in an aerodynamic position.

For the 'run' section, she uses a standard racing wheelchair.

There are variations on this depending on the type of disability an athlete has.

As well as her super showing in the World Championships, 2012 saw McTernan finish second female in the Great North Run wheelchair race in one hour, 28 minutes and 21 seconds.

However, she needs to hit a time of one hour 20 minutes to qualify for this year's London Marathon. McTernan hopes to nail that mark at the Silverstone Half Marathon in March.

She will also head to Austria to attempt an ironman triathlon (70.5-mile distance) in September.

"I have a busy schedule and I have got it all mapped out," she said.

"I do not tend to taper. I use a lot of races as training.

"Last year was a great year with many fantastic races – the world championships was the icing on the cake."

McTernan played a full part in the London Paralympics – and was involved on three fronts.

As an athlete, she took part in the swimming trials for Team GB, finishing seventh out of 12.

Strict selection criteria meant only those in the top two, and with a required qualifying time, made it to the Games.

She also volunteered as a Gamesmaker, spending four days helping the goal-ball competition run smoothly.

She capped off her Olympic experience by spending three days in the capital as a spectator.

"It was awesome," she said.

"To see full stadiums throughout the Paralympics was amazing.

"For the first time, I think people saw competitors as athletes first, not just people with disabilities taking part in athletics."

McTernan is currently in winter 'maintenance' training which comprises around four hours on the bike, three hours swimming and three hours in the racing wheelchair.

She will ramp up the volume and intensity as the year progresses, with what she calls "proper training" starting next month.

McTernan acknowledged the role of her club, Cleethorpes AC, in helping her to progress over the last 12 months.

"They are a great club and very supportive," she said.

Anyone who wants to get involved with the sport at Clee AC can contact Andrew Gristwood by email at andrew@gristwood22.plus.com

Article from:  http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/Racer-Liz-gunning-glory-Europe/story-17768217-detail/story.html

Site Updates

We will be doing a big update to this site over the next several days - a whole year's worth of partriathlon news is stuck in our inbox!!

Enjoy!!!