Port Lincoln – Triathlon History

The Port Lincoln Leisure Centre opened in November 1984, the first Manager appointed there was Graeme Dyke.

Graeme was interested in triathlon and organised the first triathlon event in Port Lincoln in January 1986, during the Tunarama Festival. It was not an official part of the Tunarama festivities but was held on the same weekend and based from the Port Lincoln Leisure Centre.

The swim for this first triathlon event was held in the South Lakes canal with competitors starting in the canal adjacent St Andrews Drive and swimming to a pontoon in the yacht mooring area. From here competitors made their way to the transition area for the bikes which was opposite the front door of the original entrance to the Leisure Centre building. The cycle course went up St Andrews Terrace, along Verran Terrace and out to the BHP rail crossing on the Tulka road and back. The run was from the Leisure Centre out along St Andrews Terrace, Stevenson Street, Queen street, Kent Place, Hindmarsh Street and back to the Leisure Centre.

Some of the first competitors included Robbie Richardson , David Porter, Mick Hegarty and footballer Bruce Abernethy (AKA Angel Cruze)

Graeme organised 4 triathlon events during January over the Tunarama weekend from 1986 till 1989. However, none of these were officially part of the Tunarama Festival.

1990’s

Liz Hill then took over as Manager of the Leisure Centre in 1990 and continued to organise the annual triathlon in January from the Leisure Centre until 1994.

The course was much the same, however in 1993 and 1994 the run leg of the triathlon finished in front of the Tasman Hotel on Tasman Terrace during the Tunarama Festival.

There was no triathlon in January 1995 but an event was organised during Easter that year based from the Leisure Centre, the organiser was Sylvia Dansie. By all accounts, the water temperature was very cold and weather conditions not ideal for triathlon.

During 1995, a group of local triathletes decided to take over the running of the annual Triathlon and incorporate it into the Tunarama Festival. A few of those involved initially included Sylvia and Phil Dansie, John Aplin, Doug Glass, Graham McConnell and Peter Sheridan.

Sylvia Dansie was Race Director for the first year that the triathlon was held on the foreshore as part of the Tunarama Festival in January 1996. The group called itself the Tunarama Triathlon Committee. Two triathlon events were organised, a Sprint distance and half-Sprint distance along with a Duathlon for the first time. The transition area was set up in Eyre Street next to the Yacht Club, the swim was a rectangular course in the bay, the cycle course went out towards Billy Lights Point and return (twice for the sprint and duathlon courses) and the run was along Tasman Terrace to Bishop street, out onto Lincoln Highway for a short distance and return. (twice for the sprint and duathlon courses)

Two perpetual trophies were organised in 1996, one for the first female and male in the Sprint Course and the other for the first team in the Corporate Challenge event. (half-Sprint distance)

Sylvia Dansie was the Race Director and organiser for the 1996 and 1997 Tunarama triathlon events.

Peter Sheridan took over as Race Director for the 1998 event. The format continued the same but the transition area moved out onto Tasman Terrace adjacent Eyre Street for ease of movement. The next 4 events from 1998 till 2001 were held as part of the Tunarama Festival down on the foreshore on the Sunday morning.

The 1998 Tunarama Triathlon was held as part of the Triathlon SA State Series and attracted the biggest crowd so far, 60 individual competitors and 20 teams took part!

21^st Century

During 2000, a winter “training” series of 1 event per month was held at the Leisure Centre from May till November. Various distances were on offer, with around a 300 metre swim in the pool and then various laps of a bike and run course. This was always followed by much discussion and a coffee at the nearby “Cruisers” Service Station.

2001

After the 2001 Tunarama Triathlon, local enthusiasts continued with the weekly training at the foreshore, for the “Mini Masters Games” Triathlon which was successfully held on April 1^st in Port Lincoln.

The winter “training” series of 1 event per month continued at the Leisure Centre from May through till November. Also during 2001, it was decided that a properly constituted Triathlon Club should be formed in Port Lincoln.

The New Club

At a meeting held in the Department of Environment & Heritage offices on the 25^th September 2001, it was formerly decided that the Lincoln Triathlon Club should be formed and Incorporation of the club was to take place as soon as possible. Those present were Ross Allen, David Foster, Peter & Lana Sheridan and Mike Stockdale.

Mike Stockdale was elected President, Peter Sheridan-Secretary and David Foster –Treasurer for the 2001-2002 year.

Because of the large number of sightings of White pointer sharks in Boston Bay during the year and the installation of traffic lights at the Porter Street/London Street intersection, the Club decided upon a change of location for the 2002 Tunarama Triathlon. An area of beach in the newly completed North Lakes marina looked ideal and the Port Lincoln City Council were approached for permission to use the canal and adjacent lawn area for triathlon training and sanctioned events. Permission was duly given and a door knock of all residents in the area received a very favourable reply to the sport of Triathlon being held there.

The new Club also decided to hold 2 sanctioned events in the new area over the 2001-2002 summer, starting with a “Grand Prix” event on Sunday 9^th December and then the Tunarama Triathlon on Sunday 27^th January 2002. The duathlon was dropped for both events and competitors had the choice of 1 lap, 2 laps or 3 laps of a 250 metre swim, 7.2 km cycle and 2 km run course.

The first training session on the new North Lakes marina course was held in very windy and overcast conditions on Sunday 18^th November 2001. However, all agreed it was a very good area and the short style course made for fast transitions.