October 2004

It's back, what's back you may ask. If you are one of the devotees of the HELL OF THE WEST triathlon held in the western Queensland town of Goondiwindi each February you will understand. Ever since the first HELL OF THE WEST was run way back in 1989 triathletes have been flocking to Goondiwindi to test themselves against one of the toughest events of it's type in the country.

The event is renowned for it's unforgiving course that tests the most accomplished & experienced triathletes. Some say it is the toughest long course event in the nation but even if this is not totally true many competitors believe it is the best preparation you can possibly have for the Forster Ironman triathlon later in the season. The combination of the mostly cross wind conditions that more often than not plague the 80km cycle course & the rising heat that descends like a blanket over the course during the later stages of the run leg make this event a truly testing time for those competitors that are Ironman bound.

The 2005 DIESEL CARE HELL OF THE WEST will be held on the 6 th of February with organizers the Goondiwindi Triathlon Club aiming to put on the best event yet. For the first time full electronic timing will be employed with Queensland based timing company “Timing Wizards” on hand to deliver fast & accurate results & race splits to all competitors. As always prize money of $150, $100 & $50 is paid to the first three finishers in every individual & team category (regardless of the number of entrants) with bonuses for the first individual male, female & team that cross the finish line.

Photos from the 2005 event will be available for online purchasing at www.triathlonPhotos.com thanks to the photographic expertise of accomplished triathlon photographer James Rankin. James will be on site over the weekend capturing great images & will again be buzzing the competitors on the cycle course from the unusually vantage point of a locally supplied Ultralight aircraft. James did this for the first time at the 2002 Hell of the West & he still rates it as one of his favourite ways to shoot an event.

This seasons event has two major random draws with Zipp Australia supplying a set 404 tubular racing wheels & a complete Trek 1400 road bike compliments of Gold Coast based Palm Beach Super Cycles to be given away over the weekend as well as smaller randoms that are spread out over the two days.

Online entries are now available at the Hell of the West web site www.hellofthewest.com which is in the process of being rebuilt with 2005 race information & a course map also available. A full listing of local accommodation is also available & will be updated regularly to make it easier for competitors to find suitable lodgings for their overnight or weekend visit. Accommodation options have improved substantially over the past year with two new motels opening up providing an extra 42 rooms making almost 100 extra beds available for the 2005 Hell of the West weekend.