Last weekend the Illawarra Academy of Sport had 63 athletes across 4 sports participate in the 2015 ClubsNSW Academy Games on the NSW Central Coast. The IAS had athletes compete in Golf, Hockey, Netball and Triathlon. The Regional Academies of Sport Incorporated (RASi) established the Academy Games in 2005 as a means of demonstrating and celebrating the wonderful talent of Academy athletes from across regional NSW, in an environment that supports high standards in competition, respect and responsibility. Sunshine, clear skies and a slight breeze made the conditions perfect for the triathlon competition at the 2015 ClubsNSW Academy Games. The Triathlon events were both a mix of skills training and competition with all athletes gaining skills and knowledge from the weekends events. Saturday, athletes from eight academies dove into the Aquathon at Toowoon bay. The Aquathon is a swimming event, designed to test the water component of the triathlon leg in competition. The athletes were certainly tested as they dove into the brisk water at 7:00am. Shortly after, athletes made the trip to Mingara, where they were straight into the cycling clinic to work on their skills and showcase their talent in the second leg of the triathlon event. After a short break for lunch curtsy of our great sponsor at Subway, the athletes headed inside to the Minga One pool for a swim cession before heading outside on the running track for a run clinic. These clinics were organised with the intention of increasing the athletes skills and preparing them for the final triathlon event on Sunday morning. After a tiresome weekend of swimming, cycling and running clinics, athletes made their final preparations before they jumped into the triathlon at Summerland Point. Both the boys and girls events were hotly contested by all athletes from the academies, with the IAS Croudson siblings Tayla and Toby finishing 3rd in the Junior Boys and Girls receptively. This is a wonderful effort as both competed up an age group to challenge themselves agains the best athletes in the state. A huge congratulations to all of the IAS athletes who proved their endurance and strength over the three legs of the event. Over the weekend, there were several medal winners at the close of the triathlon event. The medal winners are as follows: Youth Boys: 1st – Jackson Gray (SWSAS) 2nd – Sam Broadley (WRAS) 3rd – Ben Dawtrey (SAS) Youth Girls: 1st – Chloe Hollingsworth (HAS) 2nd Emily Watts (WRAS) 3rd Kitty (SITA) Junior Boys: 1st – Lorcan Redmond (HAS) 2nd – Connor Whitley (WRAS) 3rd – Toby Crordson (IAS) Junior Girls: 1st – Lauren Kerwick (WRAS) 2nd – Chloe Harnett (HAS) 3rd – Tayla Croudson (IAS) The Central Coast Academy of Sport on behalf of the Regional Academy of Sport (RASi) network would like to thank and acknwoledge the support received from the following organisations: ClubsNSW (Principal Partner), NSW Government through the Office of Sport, Gosford City Council, Wyong Shire Council, NBN Television (Media, Southern Cross Austereo (101.3 SeaFM and 107.7 2GO), Central Coast Tourism.
