A PODIUM finish and a giant unicorn, a cute baby and solid friendships helped Beaudesert locals through one of the toughest Hell of the West triathlons in the event’s history.
It rained for the first time since Hell of the West started in 1989, bringing a chill in the air instead of heat for the 2km swim in the McIntyre River, 80km bike ride and 20km run.
The country town of Goondiwindi welcomes triathletes from all over Australia to its annual Hell of the West event, which is a favourite among Beaudesert locals.
At the 2024 race local beekeeper Marius Borz, who hails from Romania, earned a podium finish by coming third in the 25-29 age group with a time of four hours and 14 minutes.
Borz and his wife Jeanette were among several locals who made the trip west for the event, including Rick and Karen Gillow, Natalie and Joel Townsend, Scott Behnke, Aaron Collis, Bo Morley and Zac, Susie and baby Rosie Cunningham.
Accomplished triathlete Morley, who is originally from Goondiwindi and now lives at Innisplain, did not race because she was nursing an injury. Instead, she lifted the spirits of competitors by cheering them on dressed up as a giant banana and then a giant unicorn.
Cunningham and Collis train regularly together, riding around the Scenic Rim with fellow BUGs Ken Ardrey and Jo Perry, swimming at Beaudesert Pool and running around Cryna.
Cunningham finished eighth in the 35-39 age group in four hours and 30 minutes.
He did it particularly tough with foot injuries sustained in the wet but was spurred on by his cute baby Rosie cheering him on from the sidelines in a ‘GO DAD’ shirt.
Collis made it through the gruelling swim, bike ride and most of the run before bowing out with an injury but was encouraged by his mates after his stoic effort.
Behnke finished 11th in the 40 to 44 age group in four hours and 52 minutes.
Rick Gillow raced two days in a row, doing the 10km Super Saturday run and backing it up with the 80km bike ride and 20km run on Sunday in a team with swimmer Joel Townsend.
Also on Super Saturday, Natalie Townsend ran 10km, Karen Gillow ran 5km and Susie Cunningham walked the 5km course cheered on by baby Rosie in a ‘GO MUM’ shirt.
