The Cronulla Triathlon Club, Australia’s oldest, was officially formed in late 1984, kicking off our first season in 1984-1985. Even before we were officially registered, our enthusiastic members organized Australia’s very first triathlon race at Wanda Beach on October 4, 1981.
The name “Cronulla Triathlon Club” was officially registered and John Holt (OAM), World Surf Ironman Champion, was the inaugural president. John Holt (OAM) along with John Wilken, Tony and Chris Southwell, Ross Pyett, Stuart Taylor, Warren Buchan, Mark Pringle, Bob Freeland, Greg Miller, Trevor Matthews, Paul Banister, Ritchie Walker, Dick Quinn, Clayton Stevenson and John and Jason Harper hold a meeting at the Polar Bears Room in Cronulla Surf Club and become the foundation members who vote in the clubs constitution. The club’s Wednesday night social run begins.
Michael Maroney (OAM), Mark Pringle, John Holt (OAM), Greg Welch (OAM) and Tony Unicomb combine to win the first ever Triathlon Club Championship held at Heffron Park. There were 6 Metropolitan clubs and a Wollongong club at that time.
Michael Maroney (OAM) beats a star studded international field and wins Noosa Triathlon.
Greg Welch (OAM) places third at the Ironman World Championship in a time of 8hrs 32 mins behind the great Mark Allen and Dave Scott.
The Cronulla Triathlon Club fill 5 positions at the Auckland Commonwealth Games Triathlon Team. Tony Unicomb, Greg Welch (OAM), Michael Maroney (OAM), Melinda Mentha and Michellie Jones (AM). This is the largest contribution from any club in Australia. Michael Maroney (OAM) is part of the team that wins the gold in the Teams race.
Greg Welch (OAM) places 2nd at the Ironman World Championships behind Mark Allen in a time of 8:24:32.
Tim Ahern wins the Australian Ironman title at Forster NSW taking home the prestigious Jim Hazel Trophy in 8hr 43 mins and smashes the Australian record.
Greg Welch (OAM) comes 6th at the Ironman World Championship in a time of 8:26:53
Tim Ahern defends his Australian Ironman title and is the first Australian over the line at the Australian Ironman Championship winning the Jim Hazel Trophy in a time of 8hrs 33mins
Cronulla win the inaugural Tri NSW Club Championship award
Greg Welch (OAM) wins the World Duathlon title
Michael Maroney (OAM), brother Sean, Sisters, Lindy, Karen and Suzie are the first family to swim the English Channel which is also a world record
Greg Welch (OAM) wins the Ironman World Championship in 8hr 20mins and is the first non-American to do. It is on his six attempt. He dedicates the win to Ritchie Walker. It is the fourth fastest time in the race history and still the 6th fastest ever to date. 6 time winner 42 year old Dave Scott pushes him all the way with only a minute separating them at the end.
Michellie Jones (AM) wins the World Standard Distance title.
Bob Southwell wins his age group at the Ironman World Championship as well as setting a new world record at the age of 65.
Belinda Soszyn wins the New York Empire Tower Run Up.
Michellie Jones (AM) defends her World Standard Distance title.
Greg Welch (OAM) comes 4th at the Ironman World Championships in a time of 8:29:14
Belinda Soszyn wins the New York Empire State Building Run Up and sets a record that would last 8 years.
Greg Welch (OAM) wins the World Long Course Triathlon title and is the only person ever to win world titles in all four distances.
Greg Welch (OAM) comes 3rd in the Ironman World Championships in a time of 8.18.57
Chris McCormack wins the World Standard Distance Title.
Brad White wins the World Ironman Age Group Title.
Belinda Soszyn wins the New York Empire Building Tower Run Up.
Michelle Beattie wins the World Long Course Age Group title.
Michellie Jones (AM) and Peter Robertson win the Sydney based ITU Olympic Distance Triathlon on the planned Olympic course. They then become the first two triathletes to win selection for the Sydney Olympics.
Michellie Jones (AM) wins Silver at the Sydney Olympics Triathlon in a sprint finish only to learn in later years that the Gold Medallist has allegedly admitted to the use of performance enhancing drugs.
Peter Robinson wins the World Standard Distance title.
Donna Moore wins the World Ironman Age Group title.
Ben Harley wins the World Junior Standard Distance title.
Chris McCormack wins the Australian Ironman.
Peter Robertson wins the World Standard Distance title.
Chris McCormack wins his 2nd Australian Ironman.
Peter Robinson represents Australia at the Olympic Games in triathlon.
Chris McCormack wins his 3rd Australian Ironman.
Chris McCormack wins his 4th Australian Ironman.
Peter Robinson wins the World Standard Distance title.
Cronulla life member Michellie Jones (AM) wins Ironman World Championship and is the first Australian woman to win.
Craig Alexander (OAM) wins.
Chris McCormack wins his 5th Australian Ironman.
Belinda Soszyn wins the World Long Course Age Group title.
Chris McCormack wins the Ironman World Championship with Craig Alexander (OAM) 2nd making the first Aussie one-two.
Craig Alexander (OAM) wins the Ironman World Championship.
John Bennetts wins the World Standard Age Group title.
Craig Alexander (OAM) wins the Ironman World Championship and makes the rare feat of two in a row which has only been achieved by a handful of athletes.
Belinda Soszyn wins the World Sprint Distance Triathlon and Aquathon Age Group titles.
Michael Maroney (OAM) wins the World Age Group Sprint Triathlon and Aquathon title for the 40-44’s.
Cronulla Tri Club Juniors win the State Junior Series.
Chris McCormack becomes one of only a handful of athletes to win the gruelling Ironman World Championships for the second occasion, in one of the closest finishes of all time. Craig Alexander (OAM) finishes 4th.
Michael Prince, wins his Age Group at the ITU World Championships in Budapest.
Cronulla win NSW Club Championships at Forster by 7 points defeating Manly Warringah in 2nd and Hills in 3rd. Up to this event both clubs had won 6 Championships each.
Chris Southwell at 45 years of age competes in the Port Macquarie Ironman swimming with the leaders and then riding in 5th place for most of the cycle. He finishes 12th outright and wins the Age Group.
Chris McCormack wins the Long Distance World Champion title.
Belinda Soszyn wins the Aquathlon World Champion title in the 55-59 age group.
Michellie Jones (AM) wins the Sprint World Champion title in the 45-49 age group.
Cronulla Triathlon Club has their 7th Win.
Michellie Jones (AM), guides paralympic triathlete Katie Kelly to gold and the World Champion.
Nathan Breen becomes the U19 Sprint World Champion winning the ITU World Triathlon series grand final in Cozumel, Mexico.
Jason Metters wins the Sprint World Champion title in the 45-49 age group.
Nathan Breen wins the Aquathlon World Champion title in Fyn, Denmark.
Glenn Gorick Awarded Ironman Australian Immortal.
Erin Hargrave wins the Sprint Duathlon World Championship title in the 40-44 age group in Townsville.
Belinda Soszyn wins the Aquathlon World Championship title in the 70-74 age group in Townsville.
Michellie Jones (AM) wins the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in the age group 55-59 in Taupo, NZ.
David Iverach wins the Aquathlon World Championship title in the 80-84 age group in Pontevedra, Spain.
Cronulla Triathlon Club win on their 40th anniversary, 10 years since their last win.
40 club members qualify for the event, 35 representing Australia another 5 representing Great Britian, Ireland, Germany and New Zealand as well as 3 officiating the races.
The Cronulla Triathlon Club is home to three Australian males and one female, who have won the prestigious Ironman World Championship.
They are Greg Welch (OAM) (1), Chris McCormack (2), Craig Alexander (OAM) (3) and Michellie Jones (AM) (1). The number after the name denotes the number of times they have won Ironman World Championships.
The club also proudly owns the title of having the most Australian World, National and Local Elite and Age Group Champions as members.