Australians win elite categories at 2010 Singapore Triathlon

East Coast Park, Saturday, Sunday, April 10-11, 2010 – Australians Anthony McSweeney and Erin Densham won their respective elite gender categories at the Osim Singapore International Triathlon held last weekend.

The event saw 3,600 participants across various categories, a slight drop from last year’s overall numbers. For the first time in seven years, the event also did not sell out by the closing date and the registration period was extended.

McSweeney finished in 1 hour, 52 minutes and 56 seconds while Densham clocked 2:10:04. McSweeney, who beat 37 other men, ended up in hospital because of dehydration but recovered.

"The race organization was excellent, the course was great, the transition was well set-up, but the weather was very hot. I felt a bit dizzy after crossing the finishing line but the doctors and medical staff attended to me immediately. I am fine now and will definitely want to come back and defend my title next year," said McSweeney.

For Densham, it was a remarkable recovery from heart surgery.

"I am very delighted to have won today as I have recently undergone a heart surgery and this is my first triathlon since then," said Densham.

There were more kids and first-timers taking part and the event is now seen as a chance for first-timers to try out the sport. More seasoned triathletes have migrated to participating in nearby competitions in Malaysia and Indonesia.

600 kids took part on Saturday, up from 380 last year, while 1,200 took part in the Sprint Distance category, up from 1,000 in 2009.

"The youth are the future of our sport, and the significant increase in kids taking part spells a very bright future for triathlon in Singapore! We have worked very hard to improve the race route and conditions to ensure that participants of all ages, backgrounds and abilities have a wonderful experience, and want to come back year after year," said Triathlon Association of Singapore President Mark Tay.

After last year’s swim death, more safety measures were put in. The first turn buoy was brought in nearer to shore (150m, compared to 300m last year) and the number of safety kayaks was increased to 25 from 20 last year.

"We also conducted three emergency evacuation drill from the swim leg, which comprises of the evacuation process from the water to the medical tent, whereby medical staff conducted CPR exercises. Thereafter, we also timed our efficiency in transporting any injured person to the ambulance, to bring the person to the hospital, if required," said Tay.

TAS is planning to launch a programme to introduce triathlons in schools with the target of achieving co-curricular activity status for the sport in the next few years, and is already in talks with designated schools to be part of the pilot project.

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