All the action from the Busselton Ironman 2010

A Perth triathlete who almost didn’t enter Busselton’s Ironman WA crossed the line in first place ahead of more than 1300 competitors last Sunday.

Courtney Ogden finished first in 8:14:01, with a four-minute lead over Matty White, while another Perth competitor Kate Bevilaqua came in first for the women with 9:19:44.

All the action from Busselton Ironman 2010

Ogden almost didn’t compete in Busselton due to a World Triathlon Corporation decision to half the prize money to $25,000, instead favouring Phuket.

However, travel costs and the convenience of competing in his home State persuaded him to take on the event eight weeks before the race.

Ogden said he was ecstatic to cross the line first and received few setbacks apart from losing his cap and breaking his goggles on the swim leg.

“Apart from that my day went pretty much perfect,” he said.

Bevilaqua beat Rebekah Keat by less than three minutes to take the top spot, her dehydration forcing her to crawling up the finishing ramp in a dramatic finish Race favourite and 2009 winner Patrick Vernay took fifth place, nine minutes behind Ogden.

Busselton’s Steve Anstee was the first Capes local across the line finishing fourth in the 25 to 29-years age division and 35th overall in 9:11:50.

Busselton physiotherapist Katie Greenfield was the first local female to finish in 10:44:18, placing fifth in the 35 to 39-year-old age division.

Of the 1320 competitors who took on the triathlon, 30 dropped out with overcast conditions and a maximum temperature of 25C ensuring a high finishing rate compared with last year’s event when about 200 competitors dropped out of the race in sweltering 31C heat.

World Triathlon Corporation brand manager Trent Taylor said the high finish rate and favourable conditions contributed to a successful event.

“It was a good clean race, there wasn’t a lot of on-course drama,” he said.

He said there were more spectators this year than in any previous Ironman WA and 1400 volunteers helped out on the day.

Taylor said the Queen Street finish to the race, introduced for the first time this year, was a big success with athletes feeding off the vibe from the crowd at the end of the race.

He said the organisers would apply for the finishing chute to have a permanent place on the main street.

Ogden said he would defend his Ironman WA title next year.