TSP17 : Some Munich Triathlon History
In TSP16 I did a bit of triathlon history from near where I grew up in the UK. And then elaborated about the first year of the 220 Triathlon Series. A game-changer for the UK triathlon scene at the time.
As I’m visiting the UK next week. I am going to try to do a Slough Triathlon History Jogging Tour. And record some audio clips on location.
I’ll visit the former location of Dave Russell’s shop in Chalvey. The flats where our local pro-triathlete of the 1980s used to keep his Kestrel 4000 on the balcony. The Copthorne Hotel. Where the Windsor triathlon used to have the Saturday registration and expo. WH Smith on Slough High Street. Where I bought my first ever copy of Tri-Athlete UK. The July 1988 issue. And Agar’s Plough fields. Where the Windsor triathlon run course went the first year it was held in the town centre. In 1995.
Why don’t you try and dig up some triathlon history in your local area? Easy if you live in San Diego, St Croix or Swindon. But maybe tougher from other towns. Let me know if you need any help with your research.
But today’s post is about some triathlon history from my current hometown. Munich. In Germany. Below is a short video on the subject that I made last summer at the Regattastrecke in Oberschleißheim.
The facility was built for the rowing and flat water canoeing events at the 1972 Olympic Games. And it’s still in use for those sports today. It’s a super place to visit for some Olympic history. The boat sheds and grandstands at the Regattastrecke really look like they are stuck in 1972.
However the tarmac on the rectangular nearly-5km circuit around the lake was brand new for 2023. This makes the venue an ideal and popular venue for local triathlons. Like Dorney or Holme Pierrepont in the UK. The circuit is safe and fast. Some people find 8 laps in an Olympic Distance race boring. But I really like it. The water is also super clean and clear.
I’ve done quite a few events here. And I’ll probably do 2 or 3 more in 2024. There’s even a triathlon stage race every May. Competitors have to do a super-sprint triathlon on Thursday. It’s a German bank holiday. An Olympic Distance race on Saturday. And a half-Ironman on Sunday.
But probably the best field ever assembled here was for a round of the European Golden Cup Circuit on the 23rd July 1989. Golden Cup was a brand of swimwear created by the lingerie company Triumph International. The European Golden Cup Triathlon Circuit started in 1988. Taking over from where the Le Coq Sportif series left off.
The Le Coq had 16 rounds in 1986 and 8 in 1987. There was loads of great racing involving athletes like Sarah Springman, Rob Barel, Sarah Coope, Yogi Hoffman, Karel Blondeel, Erin Baker, Glenn Cook and Lieve Paulus. I’ve got future blog posts or podcast episodes planned about the Le Coq.
In 1989 the European Golden Cup Circuit had 4 rounds. Munich was the 4th and took place 2 weeks before the first ITU World Short Course Championships that were held in Avignon, France.
So Munich really was the final tune-up opportunity for athletes heading to Avignon. Earlier rounds of the Golden Cup Circuit had taken place in Geel in Belgium, Nuenen in the Netherlands and Zell am See in Austria.
Of note in Munich was the fact that some members of the Australian team for Avignon were taking part. They were on a 3 race European preparation tour. They’d already raced in Macon in France on the 9th July. Where Louise Bonham got second in the women’s race. And Greg Welch and Brad Bevan finished 1st and 3rd in the men’s event.
The week after they raced in Coucouron, also in France. Welch won again. With Nick Croft in 5th and Spot Anderson in 9th. Brad Bevan had a mechanical this time. And Simon Lessing finished third in what must have been one of his very first races for Salon Triathlon at 18 years old. The Coucouron race report is below.
Images: Tri-Athlete (FR) Septembre 1989
Another 18 year old, Miles Stewart, eventually Australia’s first finisher in Avignon in 4th place, wasn’t in France or Munich with the team.
Miles was one of my favourite athletes in the late-80s. We are about the same age. I think he’s a year older than me. And it was exciting seeing the results he got so young. And reading about his training with his dad, Col.
Of course. Miles won the 1991 World Short Course Championships on the Gold Coast. In a 4 then 3 person sprint to the line. Harold Robinson was dropped with 400 to go. With Rick Wells and Mike Pigg hanging on to the hot pace until the last 50m. In fact, Rick and Mike shared the silver medal.
Miles was training and racing in the USA in 1989. And did USTS Chicago on 9th July. Where he finished 10th. USTS New England the following weekend. Which he won. And then USTS Houston on 23rd July. Which I don’t have a result for. But here’s a good profile below.
Images: Triathlete (USA) October 1989
The podiums in Munich on 23rd July 1989 were as follows. For the women: 1st Louise Bonham. 2nd Thea Sybsema. And 3rd Mandy Dean For the men. 1st Rob Barel. 2nd Greg Welch. And 3rd Mark Koks.
I got these results and the following information from the race report below. It was written by Ian Sweet. The magazine’s international correspondant. And published in the September 1989 issue of 220.
Images: 220 (UK) September 1989
The race started at 14:00 and the conditions were hot and humid. The water was 18°C. The Olympic Distance race consisted of a U-Shaped swim, an 8 lap bike ride around the lake and 2 lap run. Again. Around the lake.
Mandy Dean came out of the water 2:00 ahead of Sybesma and 3:00 ahead of Bonham. She wasn’t caught on the bike either. But a miscounting of laps meant that she had to do a u-turn. Allowing Bonham and Sybesma to catch her in transition. Louise Bonham then proved to be the quicker runner.
In the men’s race Nick Croft and Brad Bevan led the swim. With Rob Barel and Spot Anderson coming out about 20 seconds later. Phil Gable, Jurgen Zack and Greg Welch were about a minute behind.
By the 7th lap on the bike Bevan and Croft had been joined by Barel, Zack, Henning Wackerhage and Welch. Then onto the run Welch and Barel got away from the others. While Mark Koks and Pim Van den Bos were running fast and making up ground. The finish would be a sprint. And although Welch went first with 200m to go. Barel came around him in the last 50.
So. How did the protagonists from Munich do two weeks later in Avignon? Rob Barel finished 5th with Brad Bevan just behind in 6th. Spot Anderson also had a strong race in 9th. Then Pim Van dem Bos in 15th, Jurgen Zack 19th, Nick Croft 21st, Mark Koks 28th and Greg Welch 38th.
The women who competed in Munich were pretty close together in Avignon. Louise Bonham finished 10th. Thea Sybsema 11th and Mandy Dean 19th. Check out my 3 hour trainer edition edit of the Avignon race below.
Until 1992, I think, there was also a team competition at the World Championships. Based on Cross Country points with the first 3 athletes from each country to score. In 1989 the Australian men finished 2nd behind the USA and the women were 6th. They should totally bring it back. Would add some narrative to the boring draft-legal races.
All individual and team Avignon results are here.
In the spring I’m definitely going to get out and do some more Munich triathlon history. By visiting the Olympic Park and taking a trip down to Allgau. To find out about one of Germany’s oldest triathlons.
Links:
TSP16: The 220 Triathlon series - Year 1
1991 World Short Course Championships Blog Post
TSP3: I Bought 4 Sets Of Scott DH Handlebars
1989 Avignon Results
