Club homing in on new base

Redcliffe Triathlon Club (RTC) has big reasons to celebrate - it had four category winners at the recent Moreton Bay Triathlon and the club is getting closer to a permanent home base.

The sporting successes are nothing new. RTC has a rich history of racing achievements, but establishing a permanent home would be a landmark.

In the past, bases at Margate, North Lakes and the new USC Moreton Bay university site in Petrie have been suggested.

John Oxley Reserve in Murrumba Downs is still a possibility, though not for several years. A temporary home at Lawnton Aquatic Centre is now more likely.

“We have put in a submission to council to use that (Lawnton) until we could go to John Oxley,” said RTC President Nev Sprott.

“All we want is a three-bay shed to keep our trailers and equipment and an area to meet. We can build a shed, we just need land.

“Our aim, as a committee, was by the club’s 30^th anniversary to say that we have a home base, until such time as we can build our own place.”

If successful, it would be another landmark for the club which has its roots on the peninsula, but members across the region.

Some have competed at world tri and aquathon titles, Australian championships and the Ironman (3.9km swim, 180.3km ride, 42.2km run).

Debbie Wendt was RTC’s first world champion in 2014 winning the Paratriathlon PT3 sprint in Canada and Leon Colbert did Australia’s first Ultraman race – 10km swim, 420km bike ride, 84km run, in 30 hours.

This month Leanda Robbins, Sophie Burger, Matthew Moate and Karen Reardon all won sections, ranging from 14-15 to 60-64 years, at the Moreton Bay Triathlon.

Such an age range is not unusual, RTC has one member competing in her 80s. Another in his 70s has done 25 Noosa Triathlons and 60 Bribies.

Those members and many more will be at the RTC’s 30th anniversary dinner at Suttons Beach Pavilion on June 12 when more than 100 are expected.

It will be a far cry from the 36 people at the club’s first meeting on September 19, 1990 in the La Salle College (now Southern Cross) Swimming Complex.

Then, as now, everyone is welcome.

“We’re not a high-performance club, we just don’t cater for those wanting to go to the Olympics,” said president Nev Sprott.

“We accept everyone, all levels. We coach and nurture people. You don’t have to be an elite athlete. You don’t have to be super fit.

"You rarely find people good at all three disciplines. We can teach people how to swim in races, how to ride in a group.

“Newcomers tend to start on shorter distances, with most doing their first event at Bribie. I’d gone to events, but not tried it. Then I did.

"Once you’re in, you’re in!”

Contact RTC through the website redcliffetriclub.com. Submissions go to the president and director of coaching.

RTC results - Moreton Bay Triathlon

Classic (2km swim, 60km bike, 15run)

60-64 – 1^st Leanda Robbins 4 hours 31 minutes 19 seconds

Club (1km swim, 30km bike, 7.5km run)

14-15 – 1^st Sophie Burger 1:37:44 (first overall)

16-19 – 1^st Matthew Moate 1:23:18 (first overall)

40-44 – 2^nd Elisa Kennerley 1:41:12

45-49 – 2^nd Scott Milson 1:35:03

60-64 - 1^st Karen Reardon 2:08:51

Picture gallery from the Moreton Bay Triathlon

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