Feature Article August 29, 2001
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Sharbot Lake triathlon starts up againby David BrisonTriathlon director and organizers Rick MacDonald and Rick Hellard claim in their pre-event publicity that, Olympic gold medallist Simon Whitfields first triathlon is back with a vengeance, and a difference. The vengeance was certainly there, as close to 70 entries attacked the course. The difference referred to was the introduction of an added triathlon for first-timers. This untimed event had shorter distances than the regular triathlon: a 300m swim instead of 1.5 km; the 40k bike ride was reduced to 15k; and the run was 3k instead of 10k. There were 60 entries in the first-timers event, and they all seemed pleased with their introduction to the triathlon. Perhaps another Simon Whitfield will emerge from this event.
The field of 70 in the regular tri was a far cry from the 400 plus that entered in the heyday of the event. However, it was an elite field. There were five participants who were at the nationals in Edmonton this year as members of Canadas national team.The winning male in the regular triathlon was John Westdal from Ottawa. John has participated in the Sharbot Lake event before, I first entered in 1986 or 87 I believe I finished 4th, said John. This is a nice victory, but it is somewhat hollow because the leader, Stephen Flower, who had a big lead after the swim and the bike ride, took a wrong turn on the run and dropped out, he said.
The winning female was Missy Parent from Nepean. Missy has participated in some of the boot camps that Rudy and Joan Hollywood run at their Sharbot Lake cottage.
Rudy Hollywood is an accomplished triathlete in 1997 he finished 7th in the world, in the 50-54 age category, at the Ironman event in Hawaii (the Ironman has longer distances than regular triathlons). Rudy didnt fare very well on Saturday, although he ended up winning in the 50-59 age group category. When he completed the bike ride, he was unable to find his shoes, and after a delay had to borrow a pair of shoes two sizes too large. There were several possibilities for the disappearing shoes. Did Rudy: a) forget to bring them to the race? b) was he simply unable to find them after he finished the bike ride? c) were they taken by another runner by mistake? d) did another runner take them deliberately? e) or none of the above? Rudy is known to lose things (and blame his wife Joan for forgetting to pack his running stuff), so a) was definitely a possibility, strongly supported by his finding them in his bag after the race. It turned out however, that another runner had taken them (they were the same size and make), and Joan had put them back in the bag to confuse Rudy.
Many of the spectators had been actively involved, either as participants or as volunteers in past events. They, and those who had watched the triathlon years ago in Sharbot Lake, all seemed very pleased to see it return. Dr. Peter Bell did not participate this year, but he was there to watch. He noted that it had been a very special event that was highly valued by both the participants, who, like Simon Whitfield, valued it highly, and by many in the community who helped through volunteering or looked forward to the event as spectators. Peter, who often placed first in his age group, would not commit himself to participating next year, but he seems to be seriously considering it.
The only other local participants in the main event this year, besides Rudy, were Dr. Robert McCaldon of Hartington and his wife Jane, who each finished first in the 65+ category, and their neighbour Dennis Morel, who was entered in the 40-44 age category. Jane and Robert each qualified for the national team this year, but decided not to go to Edmonton. Jane thinks that Bob has run all of the Sharbot Lake triathlons, and she has missed only one or two due to injury. It is a beautiful race; the scenery is spectacular, and there is a good atmosphere. It is a friendly sort of triathlon. Im glad they have it back, said Jane.
Results of the Sharbot Lake Olympic Distance Triathlon: *beside national team members:
Overall1. John Westdal - 2:03 hrs. 1. Missy Parent - 2:17 hrs. 2. David Wilson - 2:06 2. * Erin Down - 2:26 3. *Marc Pelletier - 2:08 3. Jillian Flower - 2:27
20 291. Pat McNeely - 2:12 1. * Erin Down - 2:26 2. Rob Brown - 2:23 2. Jillian Flower - 2:27 3. Reid Van Melle - 2:26 3. Vickie Raymand - 2:32
30 391.Rob McCulloch - 2:10 1. Nancee Hunter - 2:30 2. Ian Fraser - 2:11 2. Bev Wells - 2:35 3. Mike McKenna - 2:19 3. Ann Chapman - 2:43
40 491. Tom McGee - 2:09 1. Susan Gibson 2. Gord McLaughlin - 2:09 3. Vince Feres - 2:14
50 591. *Rudy Hollywood - 2:28 1. *Jackie Madill 2. Morris OCallahan 3. Ed Brand
60+1. Robert McCaldran - 2:59 1. Jane McCaldran
