kellogg's nutri-grain coolangatta gold 2005 - media guide

“It’s going to be different this time because I won’t be leading and I won’t have the pressure Ihave had before.“My team is just a bunch of mates who wanted to be involved in such a great event one way oranother and the Teams race concept is great.“I will enjoy this experience a lot more than I have in the past and I am sure I won’t be upset ifsomeone runs past me because I am here for the fun of it.”The Teams race is another “first” on the Coolangatta Gold program but has been introduced asa wonderful way for competitors who specialise in one particular discipline to be part of theevent.Teams of four, comprising a ski paddler, swimmer, board paddler and runner have been puttogether and to add to the excitement competitors were able to join with proficient members ofany surf club to fill their team.Leech, the name most synonymous with the Coolangatta Gold, will again greet the judges atSurfers Paradise when he runs the final leg for a composite team that also includes formerAustralian Surf Life Saving Team Captain Sean Davis.Leech’s club mate Dave Kissane, who was third in the 1991 Coolangatta Gold, will paddle skifor the Manly team, Australian board bronze medallist, Tim Foran and two-time Olympickayaker Peter Scott will head up the Redhead (NSW) team and former World and AustralianIronman runner-up Luke Richmond will paddle ski for Southport.The team to beat however is undoubtedly the Tugun side that includes Commonwealth Gamesswimming hopeful and four-time Australian Ironman champion Ky Hurst.Hurst, who has been starring in Channel Seven’s popular television program Dancing WithThe Stars, will do the swim leg, his younger brother Dane the board, Olympic kayak candidateKen Wallace the ski and marathon runner Stephen Madden the run.Tugun has won a record-equalling four consecutive Australian Taplin Relay titles since 2002and whilst Ky Hurst was part of the first three victories brother Dane and Wallace have beenin the team on all four occasions.Photo courtesy SLSA6