WHAT a day it was for the 15,000 spectators and 2500 competitors in this year’s Ironman Asia Pacific Championship at Frankston last week.
The athletes began their day with a 3.8km bay swim, followed by a 180km ride along Eastlink and a 42.2km run along Nepean Hwy and Beach Rd to St Kilda.
Canadian tri-athlete Jeff Symonds, 29, won the men’s title in eight hours, four minutes and 28 seconds, with Australian Melissa Hauschildt, 31, the first female home in eight hours, 52 minutes and 51 seconds. She is the first Australian woman to win the race in Melbourne. The win gives her automatic entry to the Hawaiian Ironman at Kona in October.
Aussie Tim Van Berkel – in second place – was the first Australian male home in eight hours, seven minutes and 57 seconds.
Blue skies and gentle winds enhanced the international event which also benefits local businesses on both the day of the race and the lead-up.
It is calculated the Ironman brings in about $2.2 million to Frankston’s economy while providing 12 jobs. The figures come from REMPLAN data.
The mayor Cr Sandra Mayer is a fan of both the event and the financial rewards: “Many participants will spend several days in Frankston to prepare for the Ironman challenge, which benefits local restaurants, cafes, hotels, the arts and entertainment,” she said.
“On the day of the event, many local businesses will see huge results from the number of visitors it attracts – most notably our restaurants and cafes.”
The mayor said Frankston Council was “proud to host this significant event on Victoria’s sporting calendar, which showcases our city as a destination for recreation and tourism”.
“The event has also resulted in thousands of dollars being donated to the Frankston Charitable Trust, through a volunteer program led by the council.”
The mayor said the city would “continue to lobby for the whole race to be held in the region – rather than finishing at St Kilda.
“This will provide a greater benefit for Frankston, while making it a more enjoyable race from a spectator perspective,” she said.
Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, on Monday joined the two champions, the top athletes from each age bracket and the many volunteers responsible for the event at an awards ceremony in St Kilda.
It was a gruelling day for many of the competitors from 43 countries with the last competitors eventually crossing the line close to midnight.
“The Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship is one of the many dates on Victoria’s Major Events calendar which makes it the best around Australia and the world,” Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events, John Eren said.
“The event has cemented itself as a regular on our city’s long list of sporting highlights.
“Congratulations to the winners and the thousands of brave athletes who negotiated this gruelling course. Thank you to the hard-working volunteers who made this great event possible.”
