Busso 70.3 May 2012 

There were over 45 efs members out there for the individual event plus another 8 in teams --all in all a huge turnout by the efs rats ....
How about that 7 podiums in the Age Group fields... fantastic effort by all
The conditions were tough with grey sky's early and the swim change running parallel to the beach - it made sighting hard and waves and swell on top of you all the time. Thanks to plenty of open water practice the efs group pushed thru the conditions well and got out in reasonable condition for a gusty & windy  ride

It was all about head down,fluids in for the km and stay out of the drafting zone..a few punctures after the showers -but the roads soon dried up just in time for the infamous Busso run (which always manages to be hot & sunny) .Big (huge) crowds est around 6000 kept the riders absolutely at the top of their bike splits
By now the efs group were pumping and the podium getters right down to the back of the pack finishers all zoomed thru the laps and aid stations heading towards the  the line with big smiles having enjoyed a tough day in the tri office........winners, 2nds  and 3rds it was all happening in the finish chute..... its gonna be a big after party
Final count -- 10 went under 5hrs    15 went under 5hrs 30   --- lots of PBs --   2 x DNFs  1 x car crash (on a closed course)  and he still finished    What a day !!!!

Singapore 70.3

Singapore 70.3 March 2012
The endurance fitness race team for Singapore flew in on various red eye flights to all be booked into the Roxy Mecure on Thursday morning. It was a series of bleary eyed "hello 's" as we all caught up .hanging around the lobby waiting for rooms to be ready. The it was food & a bit of a swim and some food and check out race site

Friday was the start of expo. Not very big -- no race memorabilia --no food vans --so it was 1km to McCafe where Blair had a few days start on road testing what was good,average or fantastic in all the local cold drinks.....
Team dinner that night and of course it was....PASTA  (plus Svwensons ice creams afterwards)
Saturday  was swim the course morning then the rego.. A strong current pushed swimmers 20-30 mtrs west  from the turning buoy which worried a few of the competitors . . The efs boys just toughed it out!!

Back to hotel and time to give the No 1 Pro seeding some advice and let him be photographed with the WA efs boys.Ollie Whistler was very grateful and listened to every tip.....
Sunday was race day...the mini bus turned up...really it was a real "Bryce machine " Every piece of glitter and velvet velour on it with a  big sound system, bar ,special blue  lights and "Lexus " badging on the bonnet. WE let some of the Pro field travel with us to give them some "star " experience and improve their image a bit !!.    Unbelievable and what an omen for a great race day

Race time . HUMIDITY 95% and the drone was active filming the race above the swim start like some gigantic dragonfly. A group of drummers added to the atmosphere and it was all happening. A beach start with a 2 lap swim coming in onto a 30 mtr beach run and out after lap one past a water station & back in for lap 2

Luke,Mark and Scotty led their wave and stayed together for the swim then a gap appeared in the 400mtr run to T1 .Scotty took off and the other 2 didn't panic and just kept to their plans. Blair and Ollie were also having great swims and Gareth was right up there in his wave also.

Bike time and Scotty charged to front. Mark and Luke rode comfortably in the heat taking on plenty of fluids...off the bike at T2  it was Scotty 1,Luke 2,Mark 3 .with humidity down to 85% but temp up to 36C Blair was holding 39kph and having a big bike leg whilst Ollie & Gareth continued to tick away with ease. 

The run bought plenty of carnage due to the heat ... many in the Pro field struggled ...including the No 1 seed Mark passed Scotty in lap 1 of three laps and Luke passed Scotty into lap 2 . 

That is how Singapore 70.3  ended.A strong break through race for Mark Luckin winning his first 70.3 Age group title and qualifying for Worlds in Vegas . Luke Burton joined him on the podium with a gutsy 3rd. Ollie in his first ever long course race did a 5.03 in the heat ----wow! and Gareth cruised the run nursing his archillies to finish well. Blair succumbed to the heat along with lots of others and stopped short in the run -- practicing smart self preservation !!Lots of West Aussies also had wins , Megan,Bob,Al all with win grins!!

Rockingham Tri March 4th
Fantastic conditions greeted the EFS athletes at the Trievents Rockingham  Pursuit series # 4. Sunny, a high tide, no wind ...just perfect.The big turnout ensured you had to know your wave start time and the course was full of spectators. The long weekend drew some to Albany but many had decided to race local.

Those racing from EFS were in the various Age Groups with all having some strong swims and a 50 mtr wade to the beach before getting into T1.  Then a fast bike course awaited and it was fast with bike speeds  hitting mid 45kph ++ out there within the open field division.
Solid bikes saw all coming into the run under control for a fast flat 5 km through the crowd as a 1 loop course. Big win to Audrey in her age group set the bench mark for the other girls if they want to get near her at IM
All of the others- Gary, Chris,Andrew,Bob and Tracy, Janet all raced well --with their sights  firmly on May and Busso 70.3 this was always going to be an interesting race day  and recovery test. The 2 Marks battled out the short course bragging rights with today  Marky Marky being the man....

City of Perth
Sunday Jan 29th
All of the 14 starters from EFS approached the day with a little concern. A full week of 40 degree days meant extra hydration strategies were going to be needed.The river gods smiled and gave all a lower temp of 32 and a semi-cooling wind for the race morning. Everyone looked much happier .
The other side of this was the wind chop in the water and some nice little wind tunnel effects on front wheels.
Trievents had relocated the course to the other side of the Jetty for 2012 event and the new location worked well --including more spectator shade and viewing spots.

The open field with Mark junior was a rough swim with lots of competitor jostling for the major part of it. The choppy waters kept the field close together and a few navigation issues meant the super swimmers leads were reduced.
Bike was fast and furious ...most getting thru under or about 1 hr . Big effort by Mark on the new Cannondale finishing in 2.08 as it was part of a post NZ training block heading towards Singas 70.3 .
In the age group divisions some brilliant results form David Pattulo 2nd also with the same finish time as Mark L.(It was also Davids first Olympic distance race--well done !!) , Ludvik Grec 3rd and Paige Bowman also a 3rd . Michael McCormick, Richo and Darryn also gained valuable points for seeking a place on the Australian Age Group Worlds in Auckland

January Champion Lakes Trievents Telstra Series

Big day out for all of the endurance race team at CHAMPION LAKES A cloudy day to begin with and a light wind but after 8.00am weather conditions often change in this part of Australia as the sun pushes thru the cloud layer. By the run its was sunscreen time for all.Marko Jr tried out the draft legal race and raced well in the red hot field after completing a a Half IM just 6 days earlier in NZ
The course around a rowing regatta center was developed with triathlon input and its a self enclosed course. Narrow in a couple of spots--yes, but great race viewing access for spectators,alongside a major road for travelers....what more could you want?
How about a few efs race team podiums to round out the day
Podiums from Dave P, Ludvik, Johnno ,Grosey, and the number 1 spots for Jane Y,Fish & Bob S. Good effort all round whether u made the top 3 or not....all well raced crew!

IronmanWA 2011

IRONMAN WA BUSSELTON
Lot of work all winter was being tested as the group moved into the EFS Busso Camp stage in November

A really big IM training 3 day block including "Busso Master Chef " saw everyone relaxing on Sunday Arfo over at Eagle Bay before heading home. Reality was still 4 weeks to go & fine tuning for some......

Eagle Bay wetsuit swims

more planning IM brekkie with Kate B



Race time for 15 EFS squaddies

Jarrahdale Feral Rat Off Road Awards

The best way to spend winteris training in those hills is on the
EFS Feral rat Challenge Series A Big competion.... reputations on the line !!!
Junior up against numbers, markeymark and the big A .It was going to be a good series with the V8 also an unknown. In the womens would the massage chick hold out local knowledge?? Bragging rights over burgers where it was certainly game on........




Race # 1 The Pipeline 3 lapper extablished the early betting. Looks like Junior will be hard to beat



Race # 2 The Duatlon made sure of bike/run skills. The V8 lost points for poor transition skills throwing his bike onto the fence. Toddles was penalised for horn noise. BB lost points for bum pinching. Junior wrapped it up with strong 2nd win. Pavlova recovery food enjoyed by all in the shade of a gum tree....



Race#3 Saw a clean sweep by 2011 Feral Rat Champuion --Mark Luckin. Fish went scrounging & came back with old bottles and the dog & I chased flies waiting for them all as there was no phone reception.

Great series, outstanding B&D hospitality and a great beer garden at the pub after.