Taylormade Triathlon Club
Based in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs. We are a triathlon club that caters for everyone from the seasoned triathlete to those yet to enter a race.

Triathlon.org News Feed

1. Auckland prepares to welcome the world at 2012 Grand Final
   With less than five months to go before the 2012 ITU World Champions are crowned in the fourth year of triathlon’s premier series, Auckland’s preparations to stage the ITU World Series Grand Final are well underway. November last year saw Auckland host the Barfoot & Thompson ITU Triathlon World Cup to glowing reports. In fact the day couldn’t have been better from a local perspective, the spring weather was on its best behaviour, Kris Gemmell and Andrea Hewitt delivered home town success and huge fields took part in the age-group races over sprint and standard distance. But international visitors planning on coming to Auckland for the 2012 Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Grand Final and Age-Group World Championships be warned – you ain’t seen nothing yet! With last year seen as something of a dress rehearsal for the big show, this year’s hosting of the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final and Age-Group World Champs from October 14 to 23 aims to set a new benchmark for World Championship events around the world. Event CEO Dave Beeche leads a large team working feverishly on planning and preparing an event that will have a lasting impact on the sport in New Zealand and leave a lasting and brilliant impression on visitors in New Zealand to race or support family or friends. “This is going to be huge, fantastic for the city of Auckland, New Zealand the sport of triathlon but most importantly our international visitors. Last year was a big success but we have not been resting on our laurels, this year is so much bigger in so many ways but the goal is to once again deliver an event that will do the sport and the country proud. “There are many reasons to come to Auckland in October this year but the biggest plus for those participating or watching the racing is the ‘hub’ nature of the venue. Racing will be based in the CBD, with transition and race headquarters right on the downtown waterfront at The Cloud, a wonderful state of the art covered structure that is a legacy of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. “From the moment people check in to their hotels in the CBD, they can forget the need for a car; forget the need for long trips anywhere, all you will need is a map – which we will provide, and some walking shoes. Supermarkets, coffee, restaurants, bars, race headquarters, transition, massage, and swimming – everything you need will be within 10 to 15 minutes walk of your hotel.” And you need not worry if you haven’t yet qualified to...
2. London 2012 Olympic Qualifying Update after San Diego
   The two-year ITU Olympic Qualification Period is almost at an end after the penultimate race in the city where triathlon was invented. The ITU World Triathlon San Diego held plenty of hopes and dreams, some were realised, some were not. Here is the updated Olympic simulation, which is a guide to what the London field what look like if qualification finished tomorrow, and an early look at the Madrid round of the ITU World Triathlon Series. Elite Women’s Simulation As the final automatic qualification event for USA Triathlon, a key focus was on who would join Gwen Jorgensen and Sarah Groff in London. The top contenders were Laura Bennett and Sarah Haskins, who both represented the USA in Beijing and that battle was on right from the start. Both are strong swimmers and both emerged within a lead group of eight that included Helen Jenkins and Erin Densham. While Haskins tried a few times to break off the front in the bike, she didn’t, and they came in T2 together. Bennett flew through in 20 seconds, while Haskins took 28, and that ended-up being a defining moment. While Haskins did almost catch Bennett in the run, the 37-year-old pulled away and went on to bronze – her first series medal and her second Olympic team. In other individual selection news, Netherlands’ Rachel Klamer met her national federation’s qualification criteria with a 12th place finish. This acted as a confirmation result for her early pre-selection in 2011. Maaike Caelers also put herself into contention with 11th, enough to move herself onto the Olympic simulation. Lisa Mensink had held down a second place for the Netherlands, but her day finished early with a crash leaving T1. That crash also ended her own hopes of competing in London, she sustained a fractured shoulder, however Caelers result was enough to keep the Netherlands with two spots for now. In other important results, Lydia Waldmuller moved Austria into the picture, taking over the European new flag spot from Finland’s Kaisa Lehtonen, while Hungary moved from two places to one. A week after collapsing before the finish line in Huatulco, Vendula Frintova recovered and put the Czech Rebublic back in with a chance to send two women. So far Frintova and Radka Vodickova hold down those two places. Claudia Rivas also met the Mexican Triathlon Federation’s qualification criteria to confirm her place in London. The competition to see who can field the maximum three athletes in London didn’t change after San Diego, except for...
3. Jonathan Brownlee starts 2012 season with dominating win in San Diego
   Great Britain’s Jonathan Brownlee kicked off his Olympic season with a dominant performance in San Diego, winning his second ITU World Triathlon Series event ahead of Switzerland’s Sven Riederer and South Africa’s Richard Murray. In the race that had a huge impact on the Olympic picture, Brownlee was part of a small break at the start of the bike. However that didn’t last long, as a huge pack of over 50 athletes hit T2 together. From there it came down to the run, and Brownlee and Murray charged to the front on the first lap. They went toe to toe for almost half of the 10km run, before Brownlee laid down the trademark family kick to win in 1 hour 48 minutes and 47 seconds, his first race in almost seven months. “For me it was the first race of the season, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Brownlee said. “Seven months is a long time out, I was in a bit of shock at the race briefing thinking wow, ‘It’s been a long long time since I’ve been in one of these,’ I went into the race very relaxed really because I knew I didn’t have to do anything, I didn’t have to finish top nine, top four or anything, I just had to race my own race, and yeah, I was pleased.” “The swim and the bike were good, I wasn’t sure what to expect on that, but I have been running well all winter and my cross country races have been good. I felt good on the run. I felt a bit tired towards the end, I think I lacked a bit of racing there. Sven Riederer is a tough guy, he’s chased me down a few times before, in Beijing he chased me down down and he never gives up. Someone offered me a Yorkshire flag towards the end and I was to tired to take it, I thought I’m not going for that in case I blew up towards the end, I thought that would look a bit silly. It was a good race, I’m pleased to win, it shows that the training has gone well over the winter and I’m looking forward to the next race really.” Behind him, Riederer and Spain’s Mario Mola were catching Murray, and Riederer eventually passed Murray to stamp another series medal onto his resume. It was enough for 2004 Athens Olympics bronze medallist to confirm his London 2012 Olympics spot, and also means he is now the equal most successful man in series history without a win. Riederer now has five medals, three bronze and two silver, alongside Alexander Bryukhankov. Riederer said his race strategy came off perfectly. “I tried to save my energy on the bike, I was riding at the end of the pack and then in the end I was pushing for...
4. Helen Jenkins dominates as triathlon returns to San Diego
   Great Britain’s Helen Jenkins continued her brilliant start to 2012 with a dominating run to crush the field in San Diego, in a race that had a huge impact on London Olympic qualification. After an eight-women bike breakaway put 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the first chase group coming out of T2, Jenkins and Australia’s Erin Densham went to the lead into the first lap of the 10km run. In see-sawing battle between the Australian Olympic hopeful and Jenkins, Densham pulled away to almost 10 metres in front in second lap before Jenkins stunningly reeled in the difference and turned the tables. In an incredible second half, she went ahead to record a time of 1 hour 58 minutes and 21 seconds, over a minute ahead of Densham’s time of 1:59:26. The USA’s Laura Bennett claimed third, her first series podium, and with it her second consecutive Olympic Games berth. Jenkins said it had been hard, but the support on the run had helped her through. “It was just such a good race, we really had to work really hard for that. I really pushed the swim and we really worked hard on the bike and that was hard all the way,” Jenkins said. “I really enjoyed the run course, it was really cool, there was so many people out there supporting…it was awesome.” Densham’s third consecutive major podium for 2012 was a huge boost for her own Olympic selection hopes. Densham was the first Australian, with Emma Moffatt finishing ninth, Ashleigh Gentle 10th, Emma Jackson 14th and Emma Snowsill 17th. So far, only Moffatt has been named in the Australian team for London. “I was hurting out there, I just hope I’ve done enough. Ideally I would have taken a break after Sydney and not raced here, but I’ve had to push through and I really do hope that’s enough,” Densham said. In the nail biting race for the third USA women’s spot, Bennett chose the perfect time to record her first series podium. Given that Gwen Jorgensen and Sarah Groff both qualified their places in London last year, the battle for the third women’s spot was expected to come down to Bennett and another Beijing Olympian Sarah Haskins. It turned out to be exactly that, as both were in metres of each other for almost the entire race. It was only in the final lap of the run that Bennett knew she had claimed her second consecutive Olympic Games spot, after she finished fourth at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. “It’s tough when you have go up against a good friend,” Bennett said. “I put a lot of pressure on this day, last year in...
5. San Diego Pre-race Press Conference Highlights
   On the eve of the women’s race at the ITU World Triathlon San Diego, four of the sport’s biggest names met with the media at the event’s official pre-race press conference.  Reigning World Champion Helen Jenkins and double Olympic medallist Bevan Docherty were joined by two of America’s brightest stars, Gwen Jorgensen and Jarrod Shoemaker.  After opening addresses from ITU President Marisol Casado and USA Triathlon CEO Rob Urbach, the athletes talked about their goals for this weekend, their paths to San Diego and of course, the Olympic Games. Helen Jenkins (GBR) “It’s really exciting just to know the Olympics are going to be in your own country. At the same time I’m trying not to get too excited this far out from the Games.” “I’m just trying to keep everything simple and it’s more about getting the training in and doing the work because this year is the important year. I’m trying to keep that in perspective and that’s my goal - try to get to London in the best possible shape.” Gwen Jorgensen (USA) “Honestly, I’m so new to the sport that I don’t really have a favourite type of course. I know it’s beautiful, and it will be great for spectators. I think there will be lots of spectators out there. I think it will be exciting, good for the experience of the race; I’m excited about it.” “I am just blessed to have people supporting me. Everyone has been great, my teammates, some from other countries. Everyone has been helpful, teaching me so much.” Bevan Docherty (NZL) “The key word there is maturity. I’m getting older now and I can only peak so many times a year. In an Olympic campaign, there is only one race that counts. It’s still a journey to get to the Olympics but if you play your cards right and are smart about it, you put yourself in the best possible position come August.” “I don’t think I’m a great runner, I just think I’m a great all-around triathlete. In just a straight-out run, I don’t think I’m all that great. London is going to be very fast so in terms of a test event, I suppose this venue will be great.” Jarrod Shoemaker (USA) “The goal for all of us is to race as hard as we can because you never know what happens in one of these races. It’s about putting yourself in a position to succeed. My goal is to go out and have fun, enjoy and race as fast as I can. Catch Jenkins, Jorgensen and the rest of the elite women at 14:00 PST on Friday 11 May live at triathlonlive.tv.  While Docherty, Shoemaker the elite men begins at...