Pit Lane Start for Tom Ehlen Duathalon Event, but the wins keep coming for Bushlove

I arrived with Trudi my Duathalon partner and also wife of 10 years on time for the event start, this was to be Trudis first race since college and she was pretty nervous, me well I have had a some bad luck in the PNP series this year so was hoping to burgle a win of some sort, but this race was all about introducing Trudi to the meaningless glory that is racing.

Hunk of love Davo showed up soon afterwards and immediately Trudis butterflies went from her stomach to her head as the shanks where on full display...


Davo and myself went for a quick reccy of the course, all seemed pretty straight forward, tarmac start following onto some singletrack, we needed to be first onto the singletrack so we wouldn't get held up. Back to the race start and having a merry chat at the car we decided to head over for race briefing and check out the course when we hear from the other end of the carpark 3-2-1 GOO.. Err ok then I guess that means we missed the start.


Davo was off like a Scud across the carpark and I was on his tail like a Patriot Missle slicing up the pack till we got to the front, we past Pete (way_downsouth) near the front of the pack who seemed to have gotten of to a good start.

I was 2nd into the single track and Davo 3rd we sprinted down this and drew out a largish lead and pulled back in 1st after about 5 minutes. It was Angry and Davo P1 and P2, into the first climb we where neck and neck, Davo's hi tech bike was handling the course very well.

We continued neck and neck to the trig summit and when reaching the top continued over the otherside to what seemed like nothing and was, so we yelled back to the marshal which we, he immediately signaled at some aeroplanes and pointed out some other nice landmarks until we figured out that this was the turnaround spot, that little mistake cost us 30 seconds or so.
We went back along the way we came and we did have a very sizable lead so not to worry.

Took a left down some paddocks both still with spitting distance of each other until we came to a gnarly looking slip going straight down, Davo smashed straight down it, I should have but hesitated at the last second because I couldnt see a good line, and wussed out, so ran down it. This gave Davo about a 50 metre lead. I chased him back around the coast until the inlet, I saw other riders crossing straight over the inlet and assumed Davo had gone that way so shot over and back down the road to the transition to hand over to Trudi for the run section.
Trudi was off like a shot she looked pumped and ready to go which was great.

Davo then came in about 1 minute later which was a surprise but it seemed that Davo had taken the inside leg around the bay costing him about 2 minutes extra time and apparently had a head on with another rider.. It seems this section was to become optional as many other riders to there peril had taken this long and correct route, I raised this with course officials (m Jacques) and it seems that it was last years course hence lots of people had taken it so they decided to allow it.


So while I did complete the MTB leg in the fastest time, I hand the mantle over to Davo as he should have beaten me by about 1 minute I estimate.















Davo took off on his run section and he can fill you in on that.

So congrats to Davo for taking out the Duathalon and congratulation to my wife for coming first with me in the mixed duo, great effort.

A side note.. the spot prizes for the event given my Scotty from R&R Sport where impressive everyone came away with multiple prizes and good ones at that. And spot prizes make for happy wives, just ask Davo he scored a cap for his misses.


Davo will be along shortly to correct spelling, puntuation and add humour.
Later.. Angry


Davo writes.....

I corrected some of Clive's punctuation, but left his amusing spelling of it above. I'm a true friend.

Sweet. Clive has done most of the writing. Bummer about our start. What a couple of tools we were chatting away as the start happened at the other end of the car park. We rode very strongly on the bike leg. It was a great little course. I would have been rooted without gears though as it was flat for several kms. Clive was belting along and I was only just able to hold his wheel. I gave the climb to the trig a good go and covered all but the final dismount and run-up, in the big ring. I planned for Clive and I to ride all the way home together as with the headwind we might have been faster together, but I gapped him without realising on the steep descent and just dangled like a carrot for Clive for the last few kms. He was hungry, but never chomped on my orangey goodness.

Clive beat me to the finish which confused me. I was watching the trail too carefully for oncoming riders (you could choose what order you ran or rode so some bikers were just getting going as we returned) and missed a cunning route option which Clive took full advantage of.

I had a great run considering how I have not run for over 2 months or so. I felt sluggish to start with but once I got going I kept a good steady rhythm and opened up the taps on the descent back to the inlet and then had a good pace coming to the finish. My family came out to support and cheered me into the last 500m or so which was a fantastic boost and a grand finish to a very satisfying race. I never knew if I had won till I was told, as you never know what strongun' ran first then biked. I was stoked to take the win in this awesome grass roots event so close to my new home.

With Clive and Trudi winning mixed it was another glorifying weekend for the Bushlove clan. Nice.

Good job also to Pete Mora and fiance Kate and Matt (Yak on Vorb I believe) and his wife who all competed well in the mixed duo. I never saw Mr Yak which is funny as his SS would have stood out like a dogs balls.

R&R Sport really came to the party in their support for this event with a mint box of spotties and prizes. Nice one Scotty and R&R. I'm proud to be associated with a shop that supports these great events.

Till next time....
Davo