Meet Duncan: Bayside legend, cream apple turnover fan, and proud one-gear survivor of Ironman 70.3 Tasmania. He’s been with the club since 2007 and is still going strong. Let’s get to know him a little better...
Hey Duncan, how long have you been a member of Bayside Tri Club and what made you join?
I’ve been a Bayside member since 2007 – 18 years! I was already a triathlete when I moved to Australia from the UK, and Bayside was my local club when I landed in Melbourne.
That’s about as long as some of our newer members have been alive – respect! What’s kept you at Bayside Tri Club for so long?
It’s a super friendly club. People are always up for a chat or to offer advice when I need it.
What distances have you tackled?
My first tri was a sprint in 2007 with a 400m pool swim (ah, the glory days). I eventually worked my way up to Challenge Roth in 2015 – my one and only Ironman.
How come you only completed one Ironman? Is there another one in you? 😊
I never wanted to do one! I won an entry to Challenge Roth in 2015 after my name was pulled out of a hat at Challenge Shepparton in 2014. Training for a full Ironman was on a whole different level — way more demanding than a half. I ended up finishing 37 minutes ahead of my target and I’ll NEVER be able to beat that, so I retired on a top result!
Ha ha – any other proud sporting achievements?
Finishing Challenge Roth 9th out of 406 in my age group was a huge moment. And winning my age group at the 2009 World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston – representing Team Australia! That was pretty special.
Wow! Indoor rowing world champ?! That’s…oddly impressive. Well done!
What are your race aspirations?
I always aim to race the best I can. If that means 1st or 5th, I’m happy…though 1st is admittedly a bit nicer.
Sure is (not that I would know!) and 1st place banks BTC a few more points too 😊
Tell us about your 2XU Series age group win this season?
The 2XU series win was a big achievement this season. I started the season with gastro (courtesy of my granddaughter – thanks, Harper!), two days before the first race. I managed to win four out of the next five races – and came second by one second in the other. Completely unexpected, but very nice!
One second! Bummer. And bad timing with the gastro, but an amazing result overall! Was Harper in trouble?
No 😊 She’s 5 months old and a bundle of pure joy!
Cute 😊
Which age group are you in?
This season I moved into the Male 60–64 category. Genuinely happy about it – the 55–59 group had too many fast young whippets!
Ha ha. And who’s your greatest rival?
Chris Dunn. We've raced each other across the Orbea, XOSize and 2XU series for years. He's a top athlete and a really nice person…except when he beats me.
Tri club friendships in a nutshell! Any tri-related injuries or mishaps?
A few bike crashes in the wet, but I’ve always managed to get back on and finish. Worst moment was food poisoning before Geelong Half – I swam and biked but pulled out seven kilometres into the run feeling like I was going to die. Soft Pom moment!
Soft Pom or whinging Pom? 😉
Biggest race stuff-up?
I was fortunate enough to race Ironman Tasmania 70.3 last year (before they cancelled the event for 2025). I had a good swim, but on the bike at 17km I crossed a white line on a wet road and came down hard. I got back up to discover I only had ONE gear as the derailleur had broken! The gear was lower crank and 12th on the cassette! I rode 1169m of elevation in that single gear – at the steepest point my cadence dropped to 30, probably pushing 600-700 watts. Not fun!
Jesus. Definitely NOT a Soft Pom!
Talking of Pommy-land, where did you move from and why?
We moved from Bedford, England (about 80km north of London). My wife was fed up with the National Health Service and saw a news article saying Australia really needed midwives…the rest is history!
Back to triathlon…what’s your ultimate post-race indulgence?
Straight after a race: ice cream and fruit salad to cool down. Back home: a cream apple turnover is to die for 😊
Yum!
If your bike could talk, what would it say?
“Don’t be so soft.”
Oo, you are hard on yourself!
What would you ban from triathlon forever?
Drafting. The marshals try to do a thankless job and most of the time they get it right, but not always! But when you’re 70km into a hard bike leg and a group fly past barely a wheel apart it’s so frustrating. I usually just sit up until they are clear and try not to get too hacked off!
What has triathlon taught you about yourself?
That I’m capable of way more than I ever imagined. When I started in 2004 I could barely swim 200m without drowning, I hadn’t ridden a bike in 25 years and the thought of a 10km run made me nauseous. Ten years later I finished Challenge Roth in 10:23:02. That was a physical and mental mountain to climb – but totally rewarding.
Impressive!
Who would play you in a movie?
Apparently, I look like John Cusack (Say Anything, Hot Tub Time Machine, Con Air, etc.). He’s way better looking than me, but I am prepared to overlook that!
Ha ha. We’ll see if he’s available.
What else do you do for fun?
Is there time for anything else?! I love playing with my granddaughter. I also used to play competitive chess, though haven’t for a while.
What’s your work situation?
I retired in March 2023, but I work one day a week in a warehouse sorting order and supplies for a friend’s cousin’s (!) plumbing business. Zero stress, and the earnings cover my triathlon expenses – wetsuits, gear, event fees, bike servicing, travel etc.
And what kept you busy before you retired?
I worked in IT for 37 years, starting as a graduate programmer and moving into project management. I enjoyed my time, but don't miss it at all…and now I can train whenever I want to!
Pro hours! Who’s your biggest supporter?
My wife, Louise. She doesn’t come to many races, but she’s the one who picks me up (literally and emotionally) when I fall off bikes, and she makes my life so much easier. I’d be nowhere without her love and support.
Aww.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
“The race doesn’t start until you’ve done 20kms of the run.” That was sound advice from a friend ahead of Roth in 2015, which saved me. The swim was great, the bike was “easy”, the run started well, then the mental (and physical) battle started about 15kms into the run. Controlled effort for the first eight hours meant the last two hours were only really bad instead of total hell.
Hidden talent?
I seem to be able to guess who done it in TV shows well before anyone else, it drives my wife crazy!
Oo, me too! Must be a British thing? Growing up on a diet of Midsomer Murders, Miss Marple and Poirot on BBC 😊
And to finish, anything else we should know?
I’ve been a part of Bayside for 18 years and I genuinely haven’t met a single member who isn’t lovely or willing to lend a hand. I really appreciate all the help I have received over the years but probably haven’t thanked people enough. Well now I can. Thank You All.
We’ll take that as a group hug. Right back at you, Duncan!
Thank you too, for being part of our club, and such an inspiration. We look forward to seeing what 2025/6 season brings you.
