We would like to announce that despite his absence on the podium at prize giving due to a data error at Race 1 of the Joburg City Triathlon, young Luca Orselli is the men’s winner of the Mini Event involving a 400m swim, 10km bike and 2.5km run.

Congratulations on a fine performance, and we apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment in this regard. The Triathlon South Africa Jnr Development Squad member will receive the prizes due to him as well as the recognition he deserves for his result!

25 September 2011

Race One takes Germiston by Storm:

The first leg of the Joburg City triathlon took place in Germiston on Sunday the 25^thof September, with dominant performances from Abrahm Louw and Lucie Zelenkova seeing them to victory in the men’s and women’s races respectively.

Into its sixth year, the race found a new home at the Gauteng Aquatics Club, on Victoria Lake. A fast and spectator friendly route was created, with the run taking place on the internal road, within the lake boundary.

Despite a nippy morning, and cool water temperatures at around 17 degrees, racing got off to an impressive start, with the Sprint (Half Standard) followed by the Mini, and the Main Race (Olympic Distance) going off last at around 10:30am.

A good turnout saw a competitive main race. With the women going off first, Lucie Zelenkova lead through the first lap, and consolidated her advantage to lead Carlyn Fischer out of the water after the two lap swim.

In the men’s race, Abrahm Louw quickly made up time, exiting the water not too long after the leading women, as the second man out of the swim.

Full road closure was obtained for the bike course, thanks to World Class referring from Central Gauteng Triathlon (CGT), and marshaling by Helivac, and it wasn’t long before Louw assumed the lead on the non-draft bike leg, also getting past Zelenkova to be first in and out of transition, and onto the predominantly flat and fast run route.

Louw was followed into transition, by Erhard Wolfaardt, while in the ladies race, Riana De Lange was now chasing Zelenkova. Fischer had dropped back, after experiencing bike troubles, which eventually ruled her out of the race.

Zelenkova, who was using the race as a tester, ahead of what is expected to be her last assault on IronMan World Champs in Kona, on the 8^th of October, was in inspired form. She had a substantial lead coming off the bike onto the run.

Louw meanwhile, looked fluid throughout his assault of the four lap run course, adding to the almost one minute lead he enjoyed over Wolfaardt after the bike leg. The Namibian has his sights set on qualification for the London Olympics in 2012, with one guaranteed place on offer for an African Athlete (other than from South Africa). The form showed as Louw easily help off the field on the 4 lap run course, to win by nearly two minutes from Wolfaardt. Chris Felgate raced through the field, having come off the bike fifth, to claim third. Felgate, who represented Zimbabwe at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, is arguably the greatest challenger to Louw for the African spot in London.

In the Women’s race, Zelenkova proved she is primed for Kona, leading from start to finish, easily maintaining her lead on the run, to win by just under five minutes from De Lange, with Dianne Emery a further minute back in third.

It was the perfect level of quality racing, to end what had been a great days racing in general. With everyone from the elites to the first timers giving it all they had. A special thanks to all the race sponsors and supporters. The next event on the 5^thof February 2012, will form Central Gauteng Championships, with the final leg on the 1^st of April 2012. Points accumulated over the 3 legs, will see an overall champion crowned, as well as the champions across the age groups.

“One sport isn’t enough”, so see you at the next leg!

Race Results:

Men:

1. Abrahm Louw          01:47:35

2. Erhard Wolfaardt     01:49:24

3. Chris Felgate          01:52:19

Women:

1. Lucie Zelenkova      02:04:12

2. Riana De Langa       02:09:07

3. Dianne Emery          02:10:06

 Full results for all three races to follow shortly. 

The following breakdown of points applies to all athletes taking part in each Olympic Distance event.

Ÿ  1^st Place Overall Male/Female:  20 Points (R5 000)

Ÿ  2^nd Place Overall Male/Female: 15 Points (R3 000)

Ÿ  3^rd Place Overall Male/Female: 12 Points (R1 500)

Ÿ  4^th Place Overall Male/Female: 9 Points

Ÿ  5^th Place Overall Male/Female: 7 Points

Ÿ  6^th Place Overall Male/Female: 5 Points

Ÿ  7^th Place Overall Male/Female: 4 Points

Ÿ  8^th Place Overall Male/Female: 3 Points

Ÿ  9^th Place Overall Male/Female: 2 Points

Ÿ  10^th Place Overall Male/Female: 1 Points

All athletes that come in the top 10 places Overall are not eligible for Age Group Points or the Age Group Title.

The Male/Female athlete with most points at end of the series and at the final (Race 3) walks away with the Joburg City Triathlon Title and the R8 000 Bonus Cheque.

Age Group Points and Title:

For the Age Groups 18-24/25-29/30-34/35-39/40-44/50+ the following points are applicable at each race:

Ÿ  1^st Place Male/Female: 10 Points

Ÿ  2^nd Place Male/Female: 9 Points

Ÿ  3^rd Place Male/Female: 8 Points

Ÿ  4^th Place Male/Female: 7 Points

Ÿ  5^th Place Male/Female: 6 Points

Ÿ  6^th Place Male/Female: 5 Points

Ÿ  7^th Place Male/Female: 4 Points

Ÿ  8^th Place Male/Female: 3 Points

Ÿ  9^th Place Male/Female: 2 Points

Ÿ  10^th Place Male/Female:1 Point

There are no age Group winners or prizes at each race (Besides CGT Champs – Race 2 where various provincial age group awards are achieved) but all athletes are able to accumulate points over the 3 races and be crowned the Joburg City Triathlon Champion in their relevant Age Group. At Race 2, points are still tallied for the overall series win in your Age Group. The athlete with the most points at the end of the series will be crowned the overall title holder in their relevant Age Group.

Points are applicable to Age Groups in the Olympic Distance Race only. 

Mini and Sprint Event Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded to the winners of the Mini and Sprint Event events at each race.

Team prizes and Points:

The winning team in the Mini/Sprint/Olympic races will also receive prizes on the day at each event.

The winning teams in the series will received the overall Title for the best Joburg City triathlon team event.

Points apply as above in the individual events.

16 September 2011

Fans of competing in a triathlon as a team, and who may feel that the Olympic Distance is too far for you, fret not! We have added team events, to the half standard race, 700m swim/20km bike/5km run, and the mini race, 400m swim/10km bike/2.5km run.

If you are looking to get into triathlon, and wanting to start small, this is the ideal way, and a great chance to get together with your friends and or family to compete as a team. One or two of the swim, bike or run leg don’t appeal to you? Then rope in whomever you can to form a team, which caters for everyone’s strengths.

Entries for the Half Standard (Sprint) will be R450 per team (School Teams R300), and for the Mini R350 per team (School Teams R200).

Due to the closeness of online entries for race one closing, if you are interested in entering a team, please contact David at joburgcitytri@gmail.com or Gavin, gavin@mayhemsports.org

Ready to get into triathlon, but not ready to compete in all three disciplines at once? How about start with a team event!