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Richardson named SA triathlon champ

Posted on July 8, 2009, 8:08am

Mount Gambier triathlete Toby Richardson has capped off a season of strong results by being named the South Australian Triathlon Champion in his age group.

Richardson was ranked the No. 1 male aged 20 – 24 in the Sportsmed SA State Series which saw competitors gain points over a series of rounds during the 2008-09 season.

For the last three years Richardson has been competing in triathlon events, but it was only this season that he began to take competition more seriously.

Richardson began competing in triathlons as he was looking for something different and more challenging than football.

Entering with the goal of claiming the three state championships over the sprint, Olympic and long course, Richardson fell agonisingly short with two wins and a second placing on the long distance.

Richardson is currently taking a break from triathlon events during the winter months, but is training to compete in a long distance foot race in Adelaide in the coming weeks.

Kicking off last season at the Shepparton Half Ironman, Richardson managed to finish 14th in the 18 – 24 age group and 100th overall.

“It is a fair bit tougher in Victoria. The level of competition is a lot higher,” Richardson said.

Following that result, Richardson went on to win race two and three of the JT Cycles Triathlon Series 20 – 24 age group, with his race three win also handing him the state sprint title.

Race four of the series was an Australia Day Triathlon which saw Richardson continue his good form to claim another age group victory and finish ninth overall.

Richardson then competed successfully in both the Kingston and Victor Harbor Olympic Course Triathlons, his win in Victor Harbor handing him the second of his state titles.

The Murray Man State Long Course Championships was one of Richardson’s final races of the season, unfortunately unable to fulfil his goal of a hatrick of titles.

With the support of his family, friends, girlfriend Bianca and G and D Cycles, Richardson hopes to contest open category races against elite athletes in the near future.

Richardson has now set his sights for the Australian Iron Man competition at Port Macquarie next March where he is aiming to simply finish.

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