Hoyal wins final time trial

 By HENRY MORABANG

ANTHONY Hoyal of Curtain Brothers pipped Mark Williamson in a closely fought contest to win the final race of the A1 Asia Marine Service time trial series held over at Ela Beach last weekend.

The event took place in ideal conditions on Sunday and attracted  a good number of participants as Port Moresby prepares to host the Pacific Island Triathlon and Cycling challenge next month. 

Hoyal’s 27 minutes 49 seconds was 10 seconds off the record. 

Williamson recorded a personal best of 28:58 while the third and fourth and fifth placings were a Curtain Brothers trifecta of Hamish Guy, Paul Williamson and Justin McGann.

Current female champion, Susie Pini finished first in a personal best time of 32:43.  

She was closely followed by Neil Papenfus of Steamships Shipping who blew a tire on the bike ride.  

This however did not stop him from finishing with a personal best time of 33:30. 

Placings: Anthony Hoyal – 27:49, Mark Williamson – 28:58, Hamish Guy – 29:37, Paul Williamson – 31:32, Justin McGann – 31:42, Susie Pini – 32:43, Neil Papenfus – 33:30, Anni Galdames – 33:44, Matt Ford – 33:45, Caroline McGann – 33:57, Mike O’Connell – 34:55, Engelbert Turia – 36:24, Peter Pertex – 36:54, Margaret Tanby – 40:14.

Meanwhile, the preparations for the third Pacific Islands Triathlon and Cycling Championship are underway with sponsors joining the fray to assist.

 The 2015 Pacific Games Authority (PNG) will also assist with equipment and some funding for this event.

Stephen Damien of UpSouths Event Management which runs triathlons in the country said the International Triathlon Union, in conjunction with Oceania Triathlon Union (OUT) will be providing a one-week technical officials refresher course before the championship.  

The technical officials attending from around the country will use the competition as lead-up training for the 2015 Pacific Games.

The course facilitator,  Jacqui Kenny of Australia, (unofficial yet) may be the technical delegate (chief umpire) for the triathlon event at the 2015 Pacific Games and  this is an opportunity for the visiting athletes acquaint themselves with Kenny. 

Fiji, Guam, Solomon Islands and PNG are the countries that confirmed their participation at next month’s regional event.