A glance at Sunday’s Cairns Airport Adventure Festival results, and one would think the Douglas region had the Midas touch.

Locals were on high rotation on the presentation podiums. Among them was 29 year-old Chelsea Mee, Coral Coast Triathlon gold medallist in the Sprint (25-34 years) category. 

Chelsea started competing in the sport at 24, inspired by some fit triathletes in Townsville. "I knew I could swim and run, so I thought, I’m just going to get a bike and see how I go,” she said.

Last Sunday was Chelsea’s third consecutive Coral Coast Sprint.  

“I’m in for fun, I’m in for me, and just to give myself goals,” she explained. “I’m in it to compete against myself, but that’s about it. I think [a triathlon] is a good goal for anyone to set themselves. You don’t really need much, just a bike and a pair of goggles and a pair of [running] shoes, really!”

She’s noticed an increasing trend in the Douglas region towards fitness and healthy living. “When I first moved here, I would be out running, and I wouldn’t see anyone…I’d see a few guys on bikes, but there weren’t too many. And then Nick [Carling] started getting into triathlon, and getting his [personal training] clients into it, and it was growing. When the Cairns Challenge came along, people were inspired to start participating in those kinds of events.

“I think that event coming here really was a catalyst for people wanting to participate and becoming healthier. [They] know there are hundreds of people [coming to Port] that are cycling, swimming, running all the time. It’s really encouraged people to start becoming fitter and more active.”

Chelsea competes in various triathlons throughout the year. As well as the Coral Coast, she’s an IRONMAN regular, listing the Cairns Airport IRONMAN 70.3 and it’s Busselton, regional WA, counterpart as upcoming and past events, respectively.

Though for Chelsea, there’s something about competing on home turf.

“Local support on Sunday was fantastic,” she said, “lots of people came down to cheer everyone on, just to be part of the day. I had a lot of friends that weren’t competitors that just love to be around the atmosphere, and they came up to cheer because they knew a few of us were competing and because it’s such a fun day, with hundreds of people on the beach.”

The Newsport congratulates Chelsea, and all other local competitors in last Sunday’s Adventure Festival events.

Coral Coast Triathlon

Nick CARLING 1st place Enticer Solo (25-34)
Chelsea MEE 1st place Sprint Solo (25-34)
Cameron McKAY 1st place Sprint Solo (35-44)
Peter BROWN 1st place Sprint Solo (Clydes 90-99kg)
Liz MURRELL 2nd place Sprint Solo (20-24)

Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge

Glen THORPE and Mia MESSENGER 1st place (Mixed) OC2
Steve JOHNSON 1st place Senior Masters (Male)
Connor O'SULLIVAN 6th place Open Ski Iron Paddle (Male)
Simon DOBBS 6th place Open Iron Paddle (Male) OC1

RRR Mountain Bike Challenge 35km

FEMALE
Jean MACDONALD 1st place Masters
Jacky COOK 1st place Super Masters
Meredith SHAW 4th place Masters
Kate EVANS 7th place Masters
Angel HAYES 5th place Veteran
Nonee-Maree O'NEILL 12th place Sport
Emma CARNEY 13th place Sport

MALE
Mike THURTELL 2nd place Super Masters
Timothy ILLES 4th place Sport
Brad HENSCHKE 5th place Masters
Malcolm BARRETT 9th Super Masters
Stephen GRAY 11th place Masters
Robert BORZI 14th place Veteran

Who have we missed? Please let us know!