ENTRY OPENS TO A NEW NAME FOR THE CAPRICORN HALF

CAPRICORN RESORT HALF IRONMAN CELEBRATES A NEW NAME FOR TENTH ANNIVERSARY

The 2009 Capricorn Resort Half Ironman at Yeppoon in central QLD may sound like a new event, but it is however a new name for a tried and true, firm favourite amongst triathletes Australia wide (even if it is still one of the best kept secrets in triathlon!).

The event, previously known as the Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman, will celebrate its 10th anniversary on August 16th 2009 with a new name, celebrating a new beginning for the friendly resort that annually hosts the Capricorn Half, and will now play host to the triathlon party of the decade.

With entries now open, and a maximum field of 600 allowed, organisers, X-Tri Australia, and the sensational staff of the Capricorn Resort Yeppoon (as the resort is now known) are on standby for a major influx of triathletes, from around Australia and from around the world!

And expect a little extra this coming August, an additional memento to go with the annual Capricorn ‘hoodie’, unique to this Half Ironman.

The event is looking to attract many of the past winners, and that list is a who’s who of triathlon, and two very special athletes who have competed in each and every race held as a Half Ironman from the Capricorn Resort Yeppoon.

Queenslander, Adrian Ellul from Mackay, now a married man, with children, was just an 18 year old  lad, when he erupted on the scene in the first ever event, dressed in bright pink, and hence forth known as “Pinkboy” for the coloured tri-clothing he has worn in nine successive events in Yeppoon.

A quiet, but just as regular competitor on the course every August since 2000, is a fellow Queensland triathlete Clintyn Barnes from Toowoomba. We hope each of these sensational athletes can make it through number ten; a rare feat to be well recognised.

And across the nine years of competition to date are near 4500 additional athletes from every state and territory of Australia, regulars from New Zealand, and visitors from 18 other countries who have also enjoyed the unique atmosphere and racing that is the Capricorn Resort Half Ironman...

We've seen some amazing performances from elite and age groupers alike and some equably amazing characters in this event.

Capricorn Winners read like a who's who of Aussie Triathlon. Inaugural winners in 2000, were David Dellow and Belinda Halloran. Each has gone on to stamp their mark on the sport, Belinda has even now entered politics! The living legend that is Jason Shortis took 2001, with Marissa Robbins, and 2002 fell to WA's Stefan Kolm and Katie Kenny.

In 2003 Courtney Atkinson claimed victory, with a young Kate Major storming the women's podium and in 2004 another phenomenon occurred when Rebekah Keat became the women's winner with former South African/British athlete Nick Saunders taking the men's honours for the fifth anniversary.

The second half of the decade began with a young Victorian, Leon Griffen taking his maiden LD win, (and then went on to capture the World Duathlon Champs!) whilst  the enormously talented Angela Milne was the women's champ in 2005, and these traditions continued in 2006 when Luke Bell added this event to his winning resume and a young Victorian, Tameka Day took the women's honours. Sadly, Tameka was gravely injured on the day of the 2007 event, whilst competing in Europe.

2007 saw a partial changing of the guard as young gun Peter Schokman made it to the top of the podium, but nothing changed in the women’s race as Rebekah Keat came back and repeated her 2004 victory.

Fast forward to 2008, and yet another new name joined the winners roll, as NSW's Chris Kemp took victory whilst Bek Keat posted a three-peat to become the winningest victor of this race ever.

There are many other athletes who have included Yeppoon in their top class resumes. Belinda Granger, Pete Jacobs, Kim Wilson and top age groupers such as Leanne Southwell, Philip Dove and Teresa Rider are just three of many!

We look forward welcoming as many of our previous entrants back to Yeppoon in 2009, who are able to make it and there's always a very special welcome for the ‘First timers' too.

We do strongly recommend entering early for 2009; given the early bird savings, the huge inquiry this tenth anniversary has already attracted and because the more entries we have and the earlier we have them, the more special tenth anniversary surprises we can plan!

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