Many BTC members have come and gone since Simon Walker joined the club in 2003. More than two decades later, he's still turning up, still racing, and still finding new challenges to chase.
Hey Simon, how long have you been a member of Bayside Tri Club, and what encouraged you to join?
I've been a member since 2003. I'd read an article in the Herald Sun called "5 Weeks to Your First Triathlon" and decided to give the sport a go. After that, I looked for a local club and found Bayside.
What keeps you coming back after all these years?
I enjoy training with like-minded athletes.
At the End of Season Awards last year you received Life Membership of BTC. How did that feel?
I was honoured!
We're glad too 😊 Twenty-two years at BTC, countless training sessions, races, committee contributions and encouragement of others along the way. Life Membership is richly deserved.
Have you always been sporty?
I grew up in Upper Ferntree Gully and played Australian Rules football, basketball and volleyball.
And what sports do you enjoy now, apart from triathlon?
Surfing, watching AFL (go Hawks), and socialising.
Shame about the Hawks, but where are some of your go-to surfing destinations?
Locally I head down the West Coast (Bells Beach and Winkipop), but the international trips are brilliant. I’ve been to the Maldives and North Sumatra on surf charters.
What sporting achievements are you most proud of?
• Winning a football premiership when I was 30.
• Completing my first Ironman at Port Macquarie.
• Running the New York Marathon.
That's quite the collection. A footy premiership, 3 Ironman and the New York Marathon are achievements most people would happily settle for just one of.
What's next on the sporting bucket list?
Secretly, I'd love to qualify for a 70.3 World Championship in my age group – I'll need to improve my swimming though.
I think coach Butch just found himself another client...
Anything else?
I'd also like to complete the World Marathon Majors.
New York is already ticked off. Which one is next on the list?
I’m looking to run the Tokyo marathon in 2027.
Oo, nice.
What distance triathlons have you tackled?
All triathlon distances and all running distances up to 44km. No ultras yet.
Which age group are you racing in these days?
I turned 60 on 6 June this year, so I'll be moving into a new age group next season.
Excellent chance to qualify for age group in IM70.3 then?!
Who's your greatest supporter?
My family, of course – my wife Emma and our daughters Meg and Lucy.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
"You're at least two years away from your first Ironman" – from BTC President Marty.
Looking back, it was probably exactly the advice I needed to hear.
Sounds good. I should think of some wise Presidential advice that I can bestow on people too 😉
What work do you do?
I work in Enterprise Data Operations and Reporting at South East Water, which is basically an IT role looking after data platforms.
Any hidden talents?
Jack of all trades…I'll give anything a go, guitar, netball, windsurfing, diving, swimming – but I’m not great at any one thing.
That's a very modest answer. Most people don't casually include guitar, windsurfing and diving on the same list!
What's your kryptonite?
When I was younger, it was trying to keep up with everyone else. These days it's not getting enough sleep.
True, love my sleep. Hey, maybe that’s why you don’t come to 5.45am swim squad (yet)?
What's your karaoke song?
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil.
Naturally. And for anyone who attended last year's End of Season Awards, Simon's Peter Garrett impression remains the stuff of club legend.
Anything else we should know?
I was born on 6/6/66.
My father used to call me Damien from The Omen.
Twenty-two years at BTC and we're only learning this now? Suddenly a lot of things make sense...
