Emma Davis - 2008 Winner in Womens Category
image from www.emmatri.co.uk
IN just under two weeks, the Bahamas' premier multi-faceted sporting event is slated to begin in the nation's second city, Grand Bahama, featuring swimmers, bikers and runners from around the world.
The 23rd annual Conchman Triathlon to be staged in Lucaya, Grand Bahama, is scheduled for November 7 amidst wide boulevard streets and crystal waters in a tropical setting.
Possiple competitors can register online at http://www.conchman.com
The adult race features a 1K swim, 25K bike, and a 5K run, beginning 8am at Taino Beach.
The Iron Kids, which begins at noon, features a 200m swim, a two-mile bike ride and a half-mile run.
Groups for Iron Kids competition begin at six and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13 and over.
"The event is free courtesy of the sponsors -- Fred Smith and Sun Alliance Insurance. The first 100 to finish will receive T-shirts, medals and awards," Smith said in a release.
And presentations will be made to the first three finishers in each group (boys and girls). "All primary and secondary school students are eligible to participate," he said.
The Conchman Triathlon has been a staple of sports tourism since its inception almost 23 years ago.
In 1986, the principal organisers and founders, Ambrose Gouthro, Bert Bell and Craig Stewart, saw the potential of having a Bahamian triathlon and decided to launch it after seeing the success of the Iron Man triathlons in Hawaii and Bermuda.
"Mr Gouthro and Mr Stewart, then presidents of the Rotary Club of Lucaya and Rotary Club of Freeport, respectively, aimed to create a positive community event that would contribute to charitable organisations, which still stands in effect today," according to the event's website.
Organisers feel the Conchman provides an activity where Grand Bahama residents and visitors could come together to compete, build and maintain a healthy body and raise funds for Grand Bahama Rotary Club projects, BASRA and Freeport Aquatics Club.
At the time, Mr Gouthro says the proceeds of the event also went to the Polio Plus Organisation, which was, and still is, dedicated to eradicating polio in the world.
The first race was held at Xanadu Beach and consisted of the present distances, 1000 metre (half a mile) swim, 25km (15 miles) bike ride and a 5km (3 miles) run.
According to Mr Stewart, 166 persons participated with a fair number of entries from North America and Canada. There were 30 individual entries and 44 team entries that participated but of course only one winner in each category.
Over the next few years, the Conchman moved from Xanadu Beach to the former Holiday Inn, now Our Lucaya and then to its present location at Taino Beach, where it has garnered a lot of support and participation.
The upcoming Conchman promises to be an exciting, challenging and fun race for persons of all ages to enjoy. With the "potential to be bigger and better", the Conchman has come a long way in becoming one of The Bahamas' most respected and well-liked sports, hopefully for many years to come.
