A Tweed Shire Council employee is one of two Tweed residents to snare world championship titles at the peak international age group event held in New Zealand earlier this week.
The Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre’s (TRAC) Aquatic Program Supervisor, Jeff Collier, won the 50 to 54 age category at the 2012 ITU Age-Group World Championships in Auckland on Monday.
The only other Tweed entrant in the championships, Bill Chaffey, took out the World Championships titles in the Paratriathlete section (TRI-1).
It is Collier’s fourth World Championships, having been placed second in Mexico in 2003 (40-44 category), second in Hawaii in 2005 (40-44) and ninth on the Gold Coast in 2009 (45-49).
Collier, 49, won this year’s age championship by a convincing two minutes, defeating the two favourites – New Zealanders and triathlon ‘legends’, Scott Molina and Rick Wells.
Collier’s age category was billed by organisers as “the biggest showdown of the competition” between Molina and Wells, so the Australian’s unexpected victory was even sweeter in front of the large, parochial crowd.
“It was extra nice after all the attention given to the stars in the race, especially the way they talked up the Kiwis at the start line,” Collier said.
“I’m pretty lucky that all my legs (swim, bike, run) are pretty strong and the hilly and technical course suited me,” he said.
“It was pretty exciting as I didn’t know I was ahead until right at the end, although my son, Jay, who came along as my support crew, was aware of it,” he said.
Also satisfying for Collier was the fact that his time of 02:08:41 (two hours, eight minutes and 41 seconds) bettered the time of the winner of the 45-49 age category, 02:08:43 (two hours, eight minutes and 43 seconds).
Collier was congratulated by Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland, when he returned to TRAC in Murwillumbah to catch up with his colleagues.
“To have one world champion triathlete on the Tweed is fantastic but to have two – that’s phenomenal,” Councillor Longland said.
“Congratulations to both Jeff and Bill on their amazing wins, which no doubt were the result of hard training and dedication to reaching their goals.”
“Both Jeff and Bill train here at TRAC in Murwillumbah and it’s wonderful that our TRAC facilities can provide such excellent training grounds for these and future sports stars,” he said.
Collier has been participating in triathlons for 25 years, nearly as long as the 28 years he has spent as a Tweed Shire Council employee.
As Aquatic Program Supervisor, Collier is responsible for scheduling and content of programs such as learn to swim, swim squads and aquaerobics at Council’s three aquatic facilities at Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads and Kingscliff.
As vice-president of the Tweed Valley Triathletes club, Collier is also heavily involved in the support and development of local talent.
“Jeff’s been a valuable employee for many years and he really lives and breathes the many programs we have at our aquatic facilities, so he’s also a role model for our up and coming sports stars,” Councillor Longland said.
Instead of enjoying a hard earned rest, Collier is just about to leave Australia again for a cycling holiday in Thailand with his wife Kate.
