It has been a fantastic season for Sewell who competed at the 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas and finished in the top 20 at the recent Australian Ironman Championship held in Port Macquarie. 

His placing secured a spot for the upcoming Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Club president Murray Verran said that Richard thoroughly deserved his award. 

“Richard is such a fantastic ambassador for our club and someone the younger athletes can look up to,” he said. 

“He has been doing triathlons for a long time and has been a consistent performer. He seems to just get better and better.”

The Forster Triathlon Club had one of its best seasons ever with membership growing. The club introduced the very successful Tri Rush days, giving people the opportunity to come and try. The club placed third in Division 2 of regional clubs at the TriNSW Club Championships held here in Forster, its best result and one they hope to improve on in future years. 

Forster Tri members competed with distinction and enjoyment far and wide this year. The distinctive Forster blue tri suit was spotted all over the world, including at the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii with Dan Crossingham, Las Vegas 70.3 World Championships with Richard Sewell and Troy Croker, The ITU World Championships in NZ with Keith Pearce, in Kentucky USA, and Auckland New Zealand, as well as Canberra, Busselton WA, Wanaka NZ, Port Macquarie and Cairns. 

They had representatives at the Ultimate Tri and of course the Club Championships here in Forster. Members also raced in Newcastle, Mooloolaba, Geelong, Port Stephens and Sydney, to name but a few. 

The club was among the strongest supporters of the races staged by neighbouring triathlon clubs in Camden Haven, South West Rocks and Coffs Harbour, with both juniors and seniors flying the flag in these places. 

The club can also boast two world champions. Former member Grant Melzer, who now lives in Canberra, won the 18-19 years Olympic distance world championship in Auckland last October, while life member Keith Pearce again won world champion status in the 75-79 years range. 

Over the coming months the club will have representatives heading to more iconic places. Richard Sewell will be at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, along with Bob Martin who qualified on the strength of his age group win in Auckland 70.3. Monique Kusse will be racing at the 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas after her success in the Canberra 70.3.

On the back of a great season the club named hard working president Murray Verran as the Clubman of the Year. 

Matthew Watson was a well-deserved winner of the ‘Most Improved Male Athlete’ award. Matt has made a steady rise through the ranks over the past several seasons and this season saw Matt finish in the very competitive A-grade. He completed in his first Ironman 70.3 at Port Macquarie in a very impressive time of under five hours. 

The ‘Most Improved Female’ was Rochelle Lewis, who competed in her first ever triathlon and finished second in her age group at the recent Elite Energy Tri Series in Port Stephens.  

Juniors were also recognised with the Brett Lee Trophy for Outstanding Junior Athlete being awarded to two fantastic young triathletes, Portia Rennie and Kobe Pattison.  

Grade winners were: E-grade Portia Rennie and Baxter Pattison; D-grade Heather Scott and Keith Pearce; C-grade Kristy Aldridge and Noel Piercy; B-grade Michael Farrow; and A-grade Richard Sewell.

Junior award winners: Bronze Reid Watson and Tully Crossingham; silver Grace Aldridge, Gold Kobe Pattison and Emma Sewell.

The night also doubled as the AGM and the following people were elected to positions: President Murray Verran, vice president Peter Camilleri, secretary Brenda Nixon, treasurer Tracey Sewell, junior development Richard Sewell, race director Jonathon Osborne, publicity officer Lee Sullivan, public officer Rhett Pattison, committee Greg Micallef, Paul Nixon, Matt Watson, Bob Martin, Mick Farrow, Daniel Crossingham and Amy Elliot.

Lee Sullivan­