Hendy's Dream Gives Norris His Big Break

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday October 10, 1998

By JULEE BRIENEN

Trevor Hendy has advanced the careers of a lot of up and coming ironmen, but not usually in the way he helped out North Wollongong's Mark Norris.

Norris qualified in 11th place at the trial race of the Uncle Tobys Super Series at Mooloolaba on September 6, missing out by just one place on competing in the series.

Norris was left on tenterhooks for two weeks while ironman Hendy decided whether to pull out of the ironman series to pursue his kayaking ambitions.

Luck was on Norris' side.

Hendy, a four-time winner of the Uncle Tobys Super Series, decided his dream of winning gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Games was too hard to pass up.

But the two-week wait until Hendy made the decision was almost more than Norris could bear.

``It was hard to keep training and stay positive," Norris said.

``Just missing out was really hard."

``For the first couple of weeks I just kept wishing he'd pull out.

``Once I got the news I was really excited."

Training under fellow ironman Jonathan Crowe, Norris is ecstatic at the prospect of the coming season.

Norris has taken a ``nothing to lose" attitude about racing in the series.

``There's only one way for me to go and that's up," he said.

``Hopefully I'll do well."

The first round at North Burleigh tomorrow will be an endurance format race and Norris believes the race will suit him.

``I like the swim in the middle," he said.

``I'm not as strong as some of the older guys on the ski, but if I lose them a bit I can pick it up in the middle with the swim."

``We've gone through the race format in training and I'm looking forward to actually racing."

Norris is eager to gain as much experience as he can over the coming season and is already setting his sights on a top 20 finish in the first race.

``The only way you can improve is by racing," he said.

``I need to race to gain experience and confidence."

Another reason Norris so desperately hoped to make it into the series was the prospect of competing on home turf at North Wollongong during the second round.

``I really wanted to get in because of the round at home," he said.

``It lifts you. I wanted to experience that. To race at home where your friends and family can come and watch you and cheer you on will be a great feeling."

© 1998 Illawarra Mercury

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