Navy Today May 09 | Issue 143 - Royal New Zealand Navy

SPORT
MC 09-0112-016
National
Champs
By LT Scott McGregor RNZN
The alarm's banshee cry sounded at 0500; at
0715 on 14 March - a cold Wellington morning
- months of training would be put to test with
a 1500m swim, 40km bike ride and a 10km
run. It was the NZ Triathlon Champs and I was
ready to do battle.
When the start hooter rang out, hundreds of
triathletes launched themselves from the front
of Te Papa, heading towards a barely visible
buoy near Queens Wharf. While swimming is
comes third for me of the three disciplines, I was
happy with my progress… but as we rounded
the second buoy I became concerned - I was
sure we were supposed to swim parallel to the
wharf. Rational decisions become very difficult
when it is still dark, your lungs are screaming
for air, and you only get a split second every
three strokes to look up and make a decision.
I later found out that the lead kayaker had gone
the wrong way and had been corrected halfway
through the leg.
I sprinted into transition, found my bike (despite
a mix up) got out of my wetsuit and away.
But what was the clanging noise on my bike?
My puncture repair kit was swinging next to the
rear wheel, held on by a single line of electrical
tape. I tentatively reached down to recover it,
terrified that it would find a way into the spokes
and bring me down onto the asphalt. I was now
resigned to the fact that I was having 'one of
those days'. After an excellent season building
up to the National Champs I was having a bad
day at the office when it really counted.
A flicker of anger lit inside me. I wound up a
gear and got my legs pumping - I ignored the
heart rate monitor that I usually use to pace
myself. The Wellington coast road winds its
way in and out of many different bays. Rough
chip seal and the infamous Wellington wind lurk
around many of the tight bends and make this
flat course far more challenging. Sixty one competitors
were ahead, and as I forced my bike
along I started catching them one by one.
By the time I hit the second transition my
legs were screaming, but my practice paid off
as I dismounted and began the run. Neck and
neck with two others I heard my wife Stephanie
screaming at me that I was in 8th place. I was
hurting, but still had work to do…the three of
us ran on solidly for 7.5km but as we rounded
the turn I felt spent. The other two put some
distance on me as I nursed my aching legs.
I reduced my knee lift and the legs started
feeling better, so I shuffled faster. Next thing I
was basically sprinting and I had caught the
two in front of me. I was fighting for 4th place
overall, but more importantly I knew that one of
the others in the bunch was in my age group.
I kept going faster - the guy in my age group
stayed with me and now it was a 1km sprint
for the finish.
As I crossed the finish line I heard the commentator
announce "Scott McGregor, first in
the 25-29 year-old age group", I was stoked
to be 4th overall at the National Champs, but
to win the gold medal for my age group made
it that much better!
Things had gone wrong early in the race, and
there was a temptation to make excuses, but
the sacrifices made when training 15 hours plus
a week meant that when race day came, I was
prepared to give it all. I had run the last 10km in
35 minutes, but man, the pain felt good!
INTER-SERVICES’ GOLF
The Navy Golf team won the Carter Cup; the first time for Navy in 36 years! The Navy
team consisted of: CDR Greg Reynolds (Captain) WO Gilvray Mohi (2009 stroke play
Service Champion) WO Rob Gaastra, WO Skinny McKinney, CPO Quinn Harris, OMT
Garry Smith, OCO Sam Archibald, Mr Vic Weeks & Mr Sammy Geange, with Team
Manager: CPOCH Simon Coote (holding the Carter Cup).
Navy staged an outstanding initial win over Army on the first day, however we lost to
Air the next then had a nervous wait on the Air/Army match. A victory to Army over Air
gave the win to Navy by countback (13 Games to Navy, 11 1/2 to Air and Army!).
CDR Reynolds, WO Mohi and OMT Gary Smith were selected to represent the NZDF
in the one-off game against the ADF Team in Rotorua.
BUCKET BALL CLASH
Scott McGregor in action TE MANA hosted the Central Pacific Bucketball
championships, while on the way to China. We don’t know
who won but they enjoyed calm seas and a cloudless day!
Secondary Schools
Rowing Championships
Navy Recruiting (Northern) had a fantastic
week down at the Maadi Cup Rowing
Regatta for the NZ Secondary Schools
Rowing Championships. Maadi was the
camp used by the 2nd NZ Expeditionary
Force, near Cairo during WWII. Many
servicemen competed in rowing regattas
on the Nile. Trophies were exchanged
and the Maadi Cup was brought back
to NZ to be raced for by secondary
schools. Our recruiting team talked to
lots of awesome kids, all with all the
right stuff for the Navy! Here, LTCDR Karl
Arndt holds the Maadi Cup with Roger
Milne, who is one of the main organisers
of the regatta.
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