Newspaper article 11/4/09 - Illawarra Mercury

Triathlete Barrie selected for international tour

BY MIKE GANDON

11/04/2009 4:00:00 AM

Wollongong triathlete Shane Barrie has been selected by Triathlon Australia to be part of the 2009 Young Guns Tour of Asia and Europe.

During the tour, Triathlon Australia's leading 2016 Olympic medal prospects will gain international race experience, including exposure to varied travel, accommodation, race venues and cultures.

Athletes will also have an opportunity to earn ITU world ranking points.

Barrie, 21, was drafted into triathlons through the Australian Sports Commission talent identification process in November 2007. He was located in Triathlon Australia's Wollongong squad with coach Jamie Turner.

Turner said in 16 months Barrie has demonstrated a great deal of capacity for the demands of the sport.

His strength has been the capacity to meet the demands of the swim leg with minimal preparation. This is a tribute to the work done in his development years with coach Ron McKeon and North Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club.

"It's been pretty good - I came to triathlon knowing what the sport was about but not knowing exactly the fine details of what the sport was about," Barry said.

"Crossing over (from swimming) I found some changes, (they have) definitely got weaknesses and strengths in the sport."

"So I've definitely got to work on my bike, which is my weakness at the moment, but that's coming along nicely and my run's picking up strongly, so I'm happy with how my progress is going."

Turner said the biggest development has come in Barrie's running.

Barrie has completed the Oceania triathlon events, competing in Perth, Mooloolaba and New Zealand over the past four weeks.

He will now enjoy a two-week spell from training and begin preparation for the Young Guns Tour. After completing the tour he will take part in further competition in Europe.

The Young Guns Asian and European tour will depart on June 25 and return to Australia on July 20.

The planned itinerary at this stage is: June 28 - Seorak ITU Triathlon Asian Cup in Korea; June 30 to July 15-16 - training camp at AIS base in Varese, Italy; July 18 - Brno, Czech Republic, or Athlone, Ireland, ITU European Continental Cup.

Following the Young Guns Tour a small number of athletes, based on performance, maybe invited to stay and train with the AIS squad in Aix-les-Bain, France.

Triathlon Australia will be covering most of the expenses of the tour.

Newspaper article 27/6/09 - Illawarra Mercury

Barrie heads overseas to gain triathlon experience

BY MIKE GANDON

27/06/2009

Wollongong triathlete Shane Barrie is about to leave on the Triathlon Australia Young Guns Tour of Asia and Europe, where he will gain valuable experience competing at international level.

Barrie, 21, was selected this week in the Australian under 23 team for the ITU World Aquathon Championships on the Gold Coast on September 9 and is hoping to fill one of the three spots still available for the ITU World Triathlon Championships at the same venue later that month.

"It's all going to help me build and develop as an athlete and as a triathlete," Barrie said.

"I think (the 2.5km run/1km swim/2.5km run aquathon) will play to my strengths, with the swim being the strong leg.

"The other athletes will be going into the swim tired and fatigued and I think that will help me move up a couple of spots, or move up near the front and be in contention for a medal."

Barrie is looking forward to a Young Guns tour featuring Triathlon Australia's leading 2016 Olympic medal prospects hoping to get international experience and an opportunity to earn ITU world-ranking points.

"The first race is in Japan on July 5 and I'm definitely going over there with an attitude of nothing to lose," Barrie said.

"The other guys have had a lot more international experience than me and I think that can work in my favour and I can take a bit more of a risk while racing."

Barrie, who became a triathlete after showing promise as a swimmer and surf-lifesaving competitor, trains with coach Jamie Turner in Wollongong.

Barrie will go into the Young Guns camp on the Gold Coast tomorrow.

Following that he will leave with the squad for Japan on Thursday and compete in the ITU Asian Cup on July 5.

Next up he will go into camp at the AIS cycling base in Italy from July 6-15, before competing in the ITU European Cup in Ireland on July 18.

On July 20 he will arrive in Vitoria, Spain, where he will be based for five weeks. He leaves there for Australia on August 29 to compete at the worlds.

Aquathon World Championships Selection

I was recently selected by Triathlon Australia's Elite Selection Committee to represent Australia at the ITU Aquathon World Championships being held on 9th September at the Gold Coast.

A link to the rest of the team is below:


http://www.tahp.org.au/annoucement-of-the-itu-aquathlon-world-championship-team.html



Shane