Ben has been involved in Endurance and Multi-sport events for over twenty-three years, in-fact pretty much since their inception in Tasmania. He has been an active member in the Derwent Canoe Club, Athletics Tasmania, The Masters Athletics Association, The Sandy Bay Harriers Athletics Club, Clifton Beach Surf Lifesaving Club as well as being actively involved in planning and running sporting events in his job as a teacher.
As an active and keen participant in sporting endurance events, Ben has worked hard at maintaining a high degree of physical fitness. A regular routine of running, paddling, swimming and mountain biking ensure that he is physically prepared for the events he loves to take part in.
Ben has been an active participant in most of the major endurance events held in Tasmania. He has completed five ‘Australian Three Peaks’ events, being involved with the sailing as well as the running in these races. Their teams have placed on a number of occasions and won the prestigious ‘Tilman Trophy’ (awarded to the yachts that displayed the greatest efforts in both areas of running and sailing). In-fact in his last race in 2007, Ben ran all three peaks in the race as well as skippered his own vessel, sailing under the name of ‘Derwent Valley Pharmacy’, which finished in a creditable third place and won the sailing legs on handicap.
The ‘Cradle To Coast’ race has been a particular favourite of Ben’s. This event entails running the ‘Overland Track’ and paddling the length of Lake St Claire on day one. Day two is a casual 120 km road bike to Meadow Bank Dam followed by a short run and 44km sprint down the Derwent River to New Norfolk. Day three sees a 17 km paddle to Bridgewater followed by a 50km road bike to Collinsvale and finishes with a lazy 25 km run over Mount Wellington to finish at Salamanca Place in Hobart. He has done several of these races both as an individual and as a team member. His last effort in 2008 saw his three-man team take out second place, a very creditable effort.
Ben has participated in numerous ‘Winter Challenge’ and similar Multi-sport races. He is a keen bushwalker, and sea-kayaker and with his wide and varied experience on and off the water, technical expertise, as well as his endurance ability, is seen to be a valuable and integral member of our team.
