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It has been 25 years since Gloucester’s Brett Radford first competed in the Gloucester Mountain Man Tri Challenge. In all that time he has only missed competing in one. Knee reconstruction not withstanding, he decided to be a marshal at that event instead.
Still, looking back, he wouldn’t necessarily say it has got any easier.
“The course has changed a bit over the years,” he said.
The fact that until 2014 he had always competed as part of a team and would take on the running leg might have something to do with the effort it takes, because for the first time last year he entered as an individual competitor completing the race in its entirety.
“I was going to enter as an individual competitor the first time [then aged 21] but every time I tried getting in a kayak, I just fell out... I was born and bred on the Barrington River, but I had never paddled a kayak!” he laughed.
“Then my dad was on the organising committee for a long time, but when he passed away a few years ago he donated a prize for the first local over the line. So I decided I’d better get my act into gear and try and win it.”
Brett came second, missing out on the local title by a margin.
“I was leading until the last kilometre or so to the end, then this other guy ran up from behind me and took off. Everyone had said how hard the bike leg was but I hit it hard and when I got off I had legs like jelly,” he said.
Brett has entered the challenge every year on the back of competing in the City to Surf, for which he trains. As an operator, he spends his days sitting down but both events give him the reason to keep active.
“After 25 years, I’m still reasonably fit.”
Fortunately his kayaking skills have improved since 1991 but only because he brought a surf-ski over to the coast, put it on the lake and persevered for three hours until he got his balance.
He is now the proud owner of a 20 plus year old river racing kayak, which cost him all of $25.
“It was a great little kayak in its heyday.”
How it will shape up against today’s slick designs remains to be seen, but if last year’s appearance is anything to go by its chances are looking good. Let’s hope so, because his father’s trophy is waiting for him or the first local at the end of that line.