Kelowna Apple Triathlon voted Best Triathlon in Western Canada!
January 16, 2012

KELOWNA, B.C.—Over 1500 readers of Get Out There magazine voted on 46 categories for the Readers Choice Awards, and we are happy to announce that we won Best Triathlon in Western Canada. It seems that we have done something right :) and we thank all our supporters, sponsors and participants who made this possible.

Veteran Whitfield and Rookie Brault Claim National Titles at Canadian Triathlon Championships
August 21, 2011

KELOWNA, B.C.—Victoria's Simon Whitfield was crowned Canadian Champion for a staggering 10th time in his illustrious career, but it was young Sarah-Anne Brault who made headlines in Kelowna, B.C. by shocking the field to win her first-ever national crown on Sunday at the Canadian Triathlon Championships, hosted by the Pushor Mitchell Kelowna Apple Triathlon.

Brault, a 21-year-old Winnipeger, had a perfect game plan on Sunday – stick to the number-three ranked triathlete in the world, Paula Findlay, for as long as she could and see what happens. The West Virginia University student, who is a 10-kilometre running specialist with the Mountaineers track squad, stuck to Findlay's heels throughout the 1.5-kilometre swim in Lake Okanagan, coming out of the water in sixth spot directly behind the speedy redheaded Canuck, and never let her out of sight. With a lead group of about eight athletes working together in the lead pack throughout the 40-kilometre bike course, it was the 22-year-old Findlay who shot out of the second transition in hopes of following the road towards successfully defending her Canadian Championship title.

"I felt pretty good today, but I am so surprised," said Brault, who carried Manitoba's flag into the Opening Ceremonies when triathlon made its debut at the 2009 Canada Summer Games. "Paula took off after the transition. She's the best in the world. I never once thought I could catch her or win. I had no idea how the run would go, but I just kept to my pace." Brault's pace gave Findlay, who is rebuilding her fitness after a hip injury, all she could handle. The Winnipeger wasted no time reeling in the five-time World Championship Series winner to take the gold with a time of two hours, four minutes, 41 seconds (2:04:41).

"I just kept telling myself to run my pace," said Brault. "Paula just came back. I wasn't supposed to win so that gave me an extra boost. I had some equipment problems with my goggles and gears on my bike, but it was a perfect day." Findlay was forced to settle for the silver medal after crossing the finish line with a time of 2:05:35. Lindsey Jerdonek, of the United States was the third fastest finisher at 2:06:03, but Calgary's Kyla Coates, who crossed the line fifth, took the bronze medal as the third fastest Canadian at 2:09:10.

Meanwhile, it was the veteran Simon Whitfield who put the hurt on the men's field while running away with his 10th Canadian Championship victory. The 37-year-old Whitfield has been topped in two straight races leading into the Kelowna event by Kyle Jones at the World Cup in Edmonton and the World Championship Series race in London, making Jones the first Canadian in a decade to best his friend and training partner. But the wily vet wouldn't be caught on Sunday as Whitfield stomped the field to win the gold with a time of 1:54:12.

"It is nice to get one on Jones because he has been bloody strong this year," said the two-time Olympic medallist. "We had some fun banter throughout the week. We have become like brothers. Every workout we are side-by-side so we know how much it will hurt to win." After Whitfield and Jones came out of the water in the lead pack with all four members of their training group, the top-two Canucks managed the lead group of 10 athletes throughout the bike before running ahead of the field. The two best friends and training partners stuck together for the first half of the run when Whitfield dropped Jones and never looked back – taking a 30 second lead into his final lap.

"As soon as I saw Kyle on the run I knew he was suffering. We trained pretty hard to this race so one of us was going to be tired – that was inevitable and that very much could have been me," said Whitfield. "It was great to see our whole squad in the front pack out of the water. I'm a big fan of Kelowna. The crowd support here is incredible and the race organizers always do an incredible job every year." Jones, of Oakville, Ont., hung on for the silver medal after clocking-in at 1:54:36. "The swim and bike went as planned, but I got on the run and didn't have the legs today," said the 26-year-old Jones. "I'm thankful for the support and cheering from the Kelowna people because I was definitely hurting on the second half of that run. It is not the performance I wanted to have. It would have been nice to get my first Canadian title."

Gregory Billington, of the United States, was third fastest on the day at 1:54:46, but Alexander Hinton, of Kingston, Ont., wins the bronze medal as the third fastest Canadian. Hinton, who finished seventh overall, stopped the clock at 1:56:34. Canada's elite triathletes will now head to Victoria for three weeks of training before the Grand Final of the World Championship Series on the 2008 Olympic course in Beijing, China,September 10-11, 2011.

Calgary's Ellen Pennock and Quebec's Francis Lefebvre Crowned Junior Canadian Triathlon Champions
August 20, 2011

KELOWNA, B.C.—Two young Canadians captured their first national titles in triathlon as Ellen Pennock and Francis Lefebvre won the junior women's and men's races at the Canadian Championships in Kelowna, B.C. on Saturday. Calgary's Pennock, who is one of the rising young stars in the sport having won the first of the four-races which makes up the Teck National Junior Series which culminated with Saturday's nationalchampionships, clocked a winning time of 59 minutes, 53 seconds over the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run. "The bike course was really technical and I had to work hard to catch up," said the 18-year-old Pennock, who finished third last year. "The race was really excellent with lots of energy from all the people. I am so happy to win."

With Hilary Wille, of Victoria, first out of the water in the picturesque Okanagan Lake, the nation's top junior women put everything they had on the bike to make up considerable time. Once foot hit pavement, Pennock held off two of the most talented junior triathletes in the country to win the gold. Joanna Brown of Carp, Ont., who won a bronze medal at the 2010 Junior World Championships, claimed the silver medal with a time of 1:01:59. Christine Ridenour of Cowichan Bay, B.C., who represented Canada at the inaugural Youth Olympic Summer Games in 2010, and was the last winner on the National Junior Series heading to Saturday's start line, rounded out the women's podium in third place at 1:01:52. All three girls will form a dynamic women's squad that will represent Canada at the 2011 Junior Triathlon World Championships in Beijing, China next month.

The triathlon future also looks bright for Canada in men's racing as a group of young Canucks put on a stellar show in Kelowna while vying for the national crown. When the dust finally settled after a perfectly executed race, it was a Francis Lefebvre, of Laval, Que., coming out on top. Lefebvre clocked a gold-medal winning time of 56:05. "It was a very good race and my team helped me a lot," said Lefebvre at the finish line. "Working with my coach, our strategy was to stay together as a group on the bike, and to move strongly into the run with some spare time. My team worked really hard and it's because of them that I won today." Lefebvre was joined on the podium by fellow Quebecer, Gabriel Legault of Boucherville, who ran to the silver medal with a time of 56:13. Tristan Woodfine, who has had a stellar season in 2011, finished 31 seconds off the leading place to win the bronze. The Cobden, Ont. nativeclocked-in at 56:36. Lefebvre and Woodfine will also both be making the trip to Beijing to compete at the World Championships.

Meanwhile, across the pond, Andrew Yorke of Caledon, Ont., led not only the Canadian contingent, but was also the top North American at the ITU Sprint World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland on Saturday morning. The 22-year-old Yorke posted his second-consecutive 21t-place finish at the Sprint World Championship event after clocking-in at 53:30 on the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run course. "I have had an up and down season so I am happy with today, and, I feel like I'm heading in the right direction heading to World Championships," said Yorke, who is also a full-time student at McMaster University. "I felt good in the swim. The bike was hard right from the gun. It is so fast right now. I'm 22 and have potential with another seasonunder my belt." Britain's Jonathan Brownlee successfully defended his world sprint title after setting the time to beat at 52:23. Victoria's Andrew Russell was the only other Canadian in the men's field, and finished 51st at 55:12. Quebec's Manon Letourneau was the top Canadian woman in 40th spot with a time of 1:02:43. Edmonton's Chantell Widney finished 48th at 1:03:49. Chile's Barbara Riveros Diaz captured the women's title with a golden time of 58:35.

The Canadian Championships continue on Sunday with the elite races in Kelowna, while Canada will also field a team in the TeamRelay event at the Sprint World Championships in Lausanne.

Results for the 2011 Kelowna Apple Triathlon and the Canadian National Championships can be found on the Raceheadquarters website (scroll down to the August 20 date).

Apple Triathlon urgently needs volunteers
August 8, 2011

Kelowna, BC – With only 11 days to go before the 29th annual Pushor Mitchell Kelowna Apple Triathlon, 534 volunteer positions still need to be filled for the weekend of August 19-21. Hosting the Canadian National Triathlon Championships, ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup, Western Canadian Youth Championships for age groups 12 to 15, and the FINA approved Kelowna Apple Open Water Swim Invitational, the Apple is expecting another record of close to 2 000 event entries.

'Although more than 700 volunteer positions have been filled, we are still looking for hundreds of additional volunteers to step forward. With all eyes on the Kelowna Apple as one of the best organized triathlon events in Canada, we urgently need to have these positions filled and would really appreciate the support of all residents within the Okanagan Valley,' says Richard Montgomery, president of the Kelowna Apple Triathlon Society. Many positions are still available for bike and run course marshals, course set-up and take-down, transition, water table support, and body marking for both Saturday and Sunday.

As a volunteer you will receive volunteer instruction, an event volunteer manual, a complimentary volunteer t-shirt, food, refreshments, and a fun-filled post-race volunteer appreciation party and many exciting draw prizes including two tickets on Air Canada anywhere in Continental North America where Air Canada flies, a gift certificate from Big White Ski Resort, including weekend accommodation, lift passes and rental equipment for two people and "Beer for a year" from Tree Brewing.

To register as a volunteer for a position on any of the days please visit the Pushor Mitchell Kelowna Apple Triathlon website at www.appletriathlon.com where an online volunteer registration system is now available or call the KATS office at (250) 763-5287.

Tri the Apple Business Challenge Sprint Relay
July 28, 2011

Kelowna, BC – The Pushor Mitchell Kelowna Apple Triathlon taking place on August 19-21 provides the perfect opportunity for businesses in the Okanagan to challenge each other in the field of triathlon. Enjoy the warm waters of Lake Okanagan and race through the streets of Kelowna on a morning of fun, fitness, and friendly competition by joining the Northern Computer Business Challenge Sprint Relay presented by Total Office on Sunday, August 21.

Get together a three-person team: one swimmer, one cyclist and a runner, and challenge other business teams! Co-workers, friends, family or associates can participate under a business name. Teams are not limited to corporations alone, but can include associations, organisations, clubs and societies.

Ideally, the three-person teams will have both male and female members. The Business Challenge Sprint Relay will start with a 750m swim at Tugboat beach, followed by a 20km bike ride through downtown Kelowna and finishes with a 5km run through the downtown Kelowna area and along the lake. Use this opportunity to build team spirit or to show your competitors what you're made of!

Get your teams ready and join the Business Challenge Sprint Relay, at the Pushor Mitchell Kelowna Apple Triathlon for this fun-filled weekend of events. For more information on the Business Challenge Sprint Relay go to www.appletriathlon.com

There are also still a large number of volunteer positions to be filled. Please visit the website at www.appletriathlon.com and look under Volunteers, contact the Volunteer Director at volunteer@appletriathlon.com or contact the KATS office at 763-5287.

Sports Hero Award for our race director
February 4, 2011

Kelowna, BC – We are honored to announce that our race director, Randy Sparrow, has received the Sports Hero Award from PacificSports Okanagan. Congratulations Randy!