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Tim Berkel and Gina Ferguson win Ironman Western Australia 2008

Today in Busselton, Port Macquarie's Tim Berkel and Gina Ferguson from New Zealand were crowned the new champions of Ironman Western Australia.

In picture perfect conditions, 1,175 individual and 73 team entrants set off at sunrise on their Ironman challenge of a 3.8km swim, 180.2km ride and 42.2km run.

In the men's race, Luke Bell and Luke McKenzie established an early lead on the bike, thanks to their superior swimming.  Unfortunately McKenzie suffered some mechanical issues during the first lap of the three lap bike course, giving Bell the opportunity to take the lead and snatch the $500 Supercraft prime (cash bonus) at the 60km mark.

Bell continued strongly into the second lap of the bike, and at the 90km mark he was on world record pace.

Meanwhile a large chase pack was forming, led by Argentinian Oscar Galindez and Ironman newcomer Leon Griffin.  The group worked together to eventually catch the two Lukes, with Denmark's Jimmy Johnsen leading the men into the bike/run transition.  However it was Berkel who entered the run course in first place, following a lightning fast transition.  He was closely followed by a group which included Galindez, Griffin, France's Simon Billeau, Jason Shortis, Luke Bell and Josh Rix. 

Berkel quickly opened up a three minute gap, however course record holder, 38 year old Jason Shortis, gradually started to make ground on the 24 year old, and with 10km to go he made his move, running
past a seemingly tiring Berkel.  Amazingly, Berkel immediately responded to the pressure, and in a mammoth effort he surged back past Shortis.  As Berkel said later, "There's no way I was going to let
the old bugger beat me"!

Berkel then proceeded to stamp his authority on the race, eventually celebrating his run down the finish chute to his favourite song, "I'm too sexy".  He achieved a personal best time of 8:07:06, and it would seem that the sky is now the limit for the popular 24 year old, who has only been racing the gruelling Ironman distance since 2007.

An emotional Shortis finished three minutes later, stating at the finish line that this may be his last appearance at Ironman Western Australia.  Early race leader Luke McKenzie finished in third place.

While the overall course record held by Shortis remains intact, Mitch Anderson's bike course record was smashed by age grouper Matt Illingworth, who clocked a remarkable 4:17:25 for the 180.2km course.

The women's race unfolded very differently, with Gina Ferguson leading all the way to take the honours
from defending champion Charlotte Paul.

By remaining in front all day, Gina earned herself an extra $1,000, taking out both the bike and run cash bonuses provided by Supercraft.  While she didn't quite break the Ironman distance world record, she
broke the magical nine hour mark, setting a new record of 8:59:24 for the Busselton course.

At 28 years of age, this caps off a remarkable year for Ferguson.  She also broke nine hours when she finished third at Challenge Roth (Germany) in July, and she picked up eighth overall position at the Ford Ironman World Championships, Hawaii in October. 

When she's not racing Ironman events, Ferguson plays the violin with the Christchurch Symphony.

While slightly disappointed not to succeed in defending her title, Paul was absolutely delighted to hear that her good friend Tim Berkel had won the event, and that her husband and coach Kristian Manietta had won his age group!

Rounding out the women's placings was the ACT's Kat Baker, at just her first attempt over the Ironman distance.  Kat is only 21 years of age, and we look forward to seeing her again when she takes on Ironman Australia in April 2009.

TOP THREE RESULTS

Position                                  Overall       Swim           Bike            Run

1. Tim Berkel (NSW)              8:07:06        50:25          4:26:43        2:49:56

2. Jason Shortis (Qld)           8:10:57        50:43          4:26:37        2:53:36

3. Luke McKenzie (NSW)      8:12:45        48:05          4:29:04        2:55:35

1. Gina Ferguson (NZ)          8:59:24        50:30          4:58:12        3:10:41

2. Charlotte Paul (Qld)          9:06:34        57:35          5:00:38        3:08:20

3. Kat Baker (ACT)                 9:37:24        57:50          4:58:54        3:40:39

Ironman Western Australia

Ironman Western Australia is presented by Supercraft and proudly supported by the State Government of Western Australia through Eventscorp.  This year's event attracted a record field of 1,175 individual and 73 team entrants, including 460 international athletes.