Central Japan, My Neighborhood

Triple World Champion and two-time Olympian, Peter "Robbo" Robertson of Australia announced his retirement as a professional athlete. His aggressive, all-or-nothing racing style won him three World Championships, multiple World Cups and legions of fans in Australia and around the world. "Having decided to put a full stop at the end of my professional sporting life and having had an opportunity to look back over the years, I'm extremely proud of what I was able to achieve throughout my career. Not simply the results, but more so the fact that I followed and achieved my dreams," said Robertson. His unforgettable run in the oppressive heat in Gamagori, Japan propelled him to his third world title at the 2005 ITU Triathlon World Championships. After entering the final transition with a group of more than 50 athletes, Robertson took the initiative early in the final 10k and led throughout. Previously, he claimed his second world title in 2003 in Queenstown, New Zealand, after a bold move to break away from the main pack. But the pinnacle of his career was tied to triathlon's Olympic Games debut in his home country. "My dream as a kid was to go to the Olympics and in 2000, when I won the Sydney ITU World Cup, I achieved my childhood dream, qualifying for the Olympic Games, in front of the very people who had helped me achieve this goal. This is without doubt my most memorable sporting moment. All my other results were just icing on the cake," said Robertson. "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved throughout my career, from my supportive family, friends, fans, coaches, training partners, sponsors, Triathlon Australia, the ITU and many more, you all know who you are. Thank You." "Robbo's race record at World Championships is truly exceptional and his ability to consistently win or podium in big races has made him an icon of Australian triathlon," said Anne Gripper, CEO of Triathlon Australia. "Triathlon Australia congratulates him on a successful and productive elite career and wishes Robbo the very best in his journey post triathlon and hopes he has the same successes in his personal and professional life as a new chapter begins." "Robbo has been a huge asset to the Australian Triathlon Team for the past decade, not only through his exceptional performances but through his unique and colourful personality," said Shaun Stephens, Head Coach of Australian Institute of Sport. "Triathlon Australia would like to thank Peter for his tremendous contribution to the sport over the past decade and wishes him well for his future aspirations." The International Triathlon Union would like to thank Robertson for his outstanding contribution to triathlon and wishes him the very best in his new endeavours.

Central Japan, My Neighborhood

Here is a roundup of the weekend's action... INTERNATIONAL RACING A relatively quiet weekend on the 'pro' scene, though with Challenge Roth and the World Championship Series returning this week, it won't stay that way for long! Holten ITU World Cup Ivan Tutukin (RUS) and Erin Densham (AUS) took the wins in Holland, as most of the big names were away, preparing for back-to-back WCS events in Hamburg and London over the next two weekends. Kerry Lang was the top GB finisher in seventh. Read the full report HERE. Pos Men Women 1st Ivan Tutukin (RUS) 1:54:21 Erin Densham (AUS) 2:01:27 2nd Yulian Malyshev (RUS) 1:54:23 Anna Maria Mazzetti (ITA) 2:02:04 3rd Joao Pereira (POR) 1:54:24 Radka Vodickova (CZE) 2:02:3:03 Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island The racing machine that is Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) continued his 2010 form with another win. That was his ninth race of the year, and he now has four wins and five second place finishes - incredible consistency. Our pre-race pick Sam Warriner was passed late in the run by Kate Major (AUS) and a hard-charging Caitlin Snow (USA). More HERE. Pos Men Women 1st Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 4:01:15 Kate Major (AUS) 4:30:36 2nd Tim Berkel (AUS) 4:02:05 Caitlin Snow (USA) 4:30:58 3rd Paul Ambrose (GBR) 4:03:01 Samantha Warriner (NZL) 4:33:32 Gamagori ITU Triathlon Asian Cup Having finished third last week at the Sendai Bay ITU Triathlon Asian Cup, Athens 2004 Olympian Marc Jenkins continued his Japanese tour with a second place yesterday at the Gamagori ITU Triathlon Asian Cup. The winner, as last week, was Ryosuke Yamamoto (JPN) who finished third earlier this year in the Ishigaki ITU World Cup event. Pos Men Women 1st Ryosuke Yamamoto (JPN) 1:57:29 Keiko Tanaka (JPN) 2:11:46 2nd Marc Jenkins (GBR) 1:58:48 Amy Roberts (AUS) 2:12:33 3rd Tim George (AUS) 1:59:32 Machiko Nakanishi (JPN) 2:13:00 DOMESTIC RACING Friday The weekend kicked of early for those in the property industry, with day one of a Dorney triple: King Sturge Property Triathlon. Matt Molloy, who recently won the European Age Group (M40-44) Champs, took a close win in a very competitive race, while 2008 ITU World Champion got some race practice in ahead of bigger races over the next couple of weeks. Full results HERE. Saturday Saturday was a big day for kids at Dorney, with around 700 registered for the SUSO Open Water Triathlons. Full results of all of those HERE. The High Performance Drafting Triathlon was a key race too, as a qualifier for the European Youth Relay Championships. Gordon Benson (Leeds & Bradford TC) was the first boy across the line, while Sky Draper (Hillingdon Triathletes) continued to show her class and talent, with a fastest swim, bike and run performance to finish 1:17 clear of Maddie Winzer (Kudu Bikes Triathlon Club). The future of British triathlon looks very bright. Pos Men Women 1st Gordon Benson (Leeds & Bradford TC) 30:20 Sky Draper (Hillingdon Triathletes) 32:22 2nd Morgan Davies (Pencoed Tri) 30:22 Maddie Winzer (Kudu Bikes Triathlon Club) 33:39 3rd Simon Cooper 30:41 Georgia Taylor-Brown 34:15 More junior racing at the Upminster Junior Triathlon, full results of that HERE. The Upton Tri+ promises great racing and a great party, and we have a full report/results on that one HERE. Also reporting early this week was the first Swim Super Series event at Princes Club, organised by www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk. Read about it HERE. 3.8km Overall Name Time Gender Gender Position Bib 1 Simon Giffiths 0:51:21 M 1 121 2 Logan Poyurs 0:51:54 M 2 118 3 Sharkie Jaggard 0:52:23 M 3 91 11 Nicola Whitby 0:58:15 F 1 74 12 Anna Sykes-Brown 0:58:36 F 2 72 20 Louise Kelly 1:01:40 F 3 67 1.5km Overall Name Time Gender Gender Position Bib 1 Gary Dressel 0:18:49 M 1 31 2 Pip Bennett 0:19:47 M 2 24 3 Mark Yeoman 0:20:07 M 3 56 8 Sonia Spearing 0:22:44 F 1 17 9 Joanna Toon 0:22:44 F 2 19 14 Carly Bland 0:24:47 F 3 5 Sunday Sunday at Dorney was the Bananaman Triathlon, including Team Time Trial (Results), Relay (Results) and Individual (Results) formats. Richard Legge and Anna Murawska were the individual winners. The City of Bath Triathlon is one of the few (only?) pool-based Standard Distance events around. Matt Newman (MOTI / Giant / BADTri) and Kate Burley (University of Bath Tri) were clear winners. Full results HERE. Chris Hayward and Kirsti Robertson (Team AVS) won the Sprint race - results HERE. The White Oak Triathlon is now in its 21st year and attracted another full field, with James Gibson and Susan Fairfax fastest on the day. Full RESULTS. Pos Men Women 1st James Gibson (Loughborough Students) 1:15:50 Susan Fairfax (Crystal Palace Triathletes) 1:29:00 2nd Neil Harris (7Oaks Tri Club) 1:16:42 Clare Wyngard 1:34:12 3rd Chris Birch 1:16:51 Jenni Van Deelen 1:34:18 We also have results from the Plymouth Triathlon (HERE), Race to the Bill (HERE), Three Spires Sprint (HERE) and more... FULL WEEKEND RESULTS LINKS

Having finished third last week at the Sendai Bay ITU Triathlon Asian Cup, Athens 2004 Olympian Marc Jenkins continued his Japanese tour with a second place yesterday at the Gamagori ITU Triathlon Asian Cup. The winner, as last week, was Ryosuke Yamamoto (JPN) who finished third earlier this year in the Ishigaki ITU World Cup event. Pos Men Women 1st Ryosuke Yamamoto (JPN) 1:57:29 Keiko Tanaka (JPN) 2:11:46 2nd Marc Jenkins (GBR) 1:58:48 Amy Roberts (AUS) 2:12:33 3rd Tim George (AUS) 1:59:32 Machiko Nakanishi (JPN) 2:13:00

Currently on showcase at Milano Moda Uomo with the event An Outdoor Concept at Lorenzelli Arte is the The Woolrich Woolen Mills Fall/Winter 2010 Collection. This year featuring Japanese artist Masaso Yamamoto whose “KAWA=Flow” exhibition will certainly attract the right attention. Born in 1957 in Japan, Gamagori, in the Aichi region, Masao Yamamoto studied painting [...]

Central Japan, My Neighborhood