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'Barnes bests nation' s top triathietes Photo by GRAHAIV Campbllvillê's HarrY Barnes shows off the Mus; he received for winning his age clama national tinathlon chaMpmonships In Corn.rbrook, NewfoundiancrSunday. .Iciakz-@"s Il il ne Nt & S., ciark By STEVE LeBLANC ti The Champion r A midst nightmaris1h race b conditions, a dreamn per- g formance was for&ed by n Campbellville's Harry Bamnes. b And in tbe process, a second sîraigbt national age class cbampionsbip was cap-r îured by tbe local trisîblete - wbose big-b- ly impressive tille defesse was sîaged in c Cornerbrook, Newfoundland Sunday morning. Tbe 53-year-old's five-minute margin of yictory last year was certainly convincing, t but tbe manner in wbicb be reclaimed god was downnigbt domisaling. Despite a constant baille witb botb rain and bone-cbilling tempetatures, tbe rural racer îook an early lead and sîeadily widened il tbrougboul tbe 1.5 kilometre swim, 40 kilometre bike, 10 kilometre mun triatblon 10 finish an amazisg 14 minutes abead of runner-up Rudy Hollywood of Nepean. Tamed tricky course Bornes* 2:30.17 sbowing - on one of tbe most îecbsically cballengisg courses in tbe country - not only îranslated mbt men's 50-54 year age class gold, but also placed bim among tbe top quarter of al atbletes in Cornerbrook. He was less iban 21 minutes bebiîîd overaîl wisner Murray McCutcbeon of Vancouver 1I was s0 prepared for ibis race il was 'scary," said Barnes, wbo after masy years of takisg second place finally won tbe natiosals lasi summer in Edmonton. "Il was tbe easiest race of my life. Il Icît like a walk sn tbe park." Tbat bad a lot tu do wiib a.dows-sized training scbedule, wbicb seemed 10 leave bîm more energized for actual coiipeli- lions ibis summer. And don't discount the benefits ol a par- ticularly rainy spiing-and summer - tbat no doubt belped tbe national cbampion beco;me betier ai dealing witb lets Iban 1 ideal race conditions, wbicb in tbe pasi E would bave wreaked bavoc wiîb bis espe- S cially lean body mass. "It was cold and wel tbe wbole race. At ain was s0 heavy it was scary on the ike,- recalled Bames. -Bu il just didn't malter, nothing was oing to stand in my way ihis lime. I'd ever been more focused -for a race etore." Tbat confident and positive tone was a aarked contrast t0 bis demeèanor the day iefore nationals - wben an airplane lelay, plus inclement weatber in ibe vlaritimes, lefi bim extremely îired and moody. -lt's amazing bow I wenl fromt feeling so errible one day 10 being so ready ibe nexi." Sensational swins Barnes delivered one of bis besi swims - in 23.33 minutes - before overcast skies let loose a downpour just as the top riders were getting on Ibeir bikes. That's wbere tbe local triathlete, who'd been preparing for ibis specific race for nearly a year. lefI tbe pack bebind - even on a îreacberous cycling course Ibat olten required a great deal of caution. Explained Barnes, "I almosi wiped ouI on tbe first loop so I bad 10 take il easy around certain turns. But I still managed 10 gain about 10 minutes (on Hollywood) on tbe bike." From ibere, il was simply a malter of mainiaining bis sîcady lormi over a billy run en route 10 anoîber gold medal effort. ý I feels great 10 finally be winning (aI tbe nationals)." be said. "Always coming in second was really starting 10 gel on my serves." Now ibat Barnes bas repeaîed as national champion, be'll look 10 reclaim a top-tO world placîsg - during nexi summer's international sltowcase in Edmonton. Lasi year in Monireal, be îook seventb spot in bis age class. And wbile tbe accoîsplisbed irisîbîce isn'i mucb on seiiing specilie goals - for fear of jinxing îbem - be believes improving on. ibai world placing is wîtbîn bis grasp. "1 tbink linisbing top five is possible." be said. -l,1l take a litîle lime off aI tbe end of tbe sumnmer and iben stant training again in October." ~'~Iû èSkte MORE THAN JUST A SPORTS *SHOP 0 ~ HATS e PENS à TACK STS e MOUSE PADS à; TACK UITS e MAGNETS eGOLF SHIRTS * MUCH, MUCH morE 18 Thompson Rd. 8872 Unit #6, Milton87 742 S P O R T se ti o 1 Z i OI&sanes