Ironman Hendy Bounces Back

The Age

Monday November 15, 1993

Cool-headed Trevor Hendy came back from a poor start to saunter to victory in yesterday's Uncle Tobys Ironman race at Coolum, Queensland.

The win, Hendy's second in three races, places him in a strong position in front of Surfers Paradise clubmate Dwayne Thuys and Mooloolaba's Michael King, with four rounds of the series left.

Hendy was expected to dominate yesterday's four-race pursuit format, but surprisingly went astray in the opening swim.

Instead of being up with the leaders, Craig Hackett and Craig Hummer, Hendy finished 27th, 54 seconds off the pace in an event where time is crucial.

Part of Hendy's problem was caused when an inflatable boat carrying television cameras forced him and four others to stop in the middle of the race to avoid a collision.

``I made a few mistakes in the swim but I didn't panic," said Hendy, who also was hit by stomach cramps and muscle spasms.

``I knew I had been that far behind before and come back. I just had to think that that was my worst leg out of the way and that I could work my way back."

True to his belief, the unflappable Hendy bounced back to leap to third overall with a powerful ski paddle in which he finished only 30 seconds behind Olympic gold medallist Clint Robinson.

The writing was then on the wall for South Australian race leader Simon Martin, who after an impressive start, faultered in the board while Hendy, Robinson and new threat David Foyster made the most of the one-metre chop to fight out the finish.

Foyster won, but Hendy gained the overall lead and a vital 23 seconds to lead from Thuys, Foyster and King.

No challenge came in the run and Hendy strode home ahead of defending champion Andrews, who improved from fifth to finish ahead of Foyster.

Andrews blew his chances when he lost his goggles in the swim, then fell off his board and almost took the wrong path in the run.

Earlier in the day, Maroochydore A finished ahead of Sydney's Manly crew with Victoria's Point Lonsdale third in the man-on-man surfboat series.

© 1993 The Age

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