Troy G. Fidler – Head Coach and Director of Fidler Sports
With 22 years experience in triathlons, Troy is one of the true pioneers of
the sport. Whilst still in school, he entered his first triathlon as a 16
year old in 1984. Since that time, he has gone on to compete in over 300
triathlons and multi-sport events both here and overseas.
As an athlete, Troy has reached the pinnacle of the sport with many
outstanding achievements. These include 3 open Australian Triathlon titles
(Long Course in 1990, Sprint and Olympic in 1995) and was named as the
“Australian Triathlete of the Year” in 1995. He has represented Australia
at three World Championships with his best performance being 8th in Wellington,
New Zealand in 1994. Troy now competes as a willing age-grouper and can be
regularly seen talking and joking with other athletes in many transition areas
across the country.
As a coach, Troy is responsible for founding one of this country’s largest
and most successful triathlon squads. Members of this training group
compete across all distances from Sprint to Ironman and encompass all levels
from juniors to seniors, beginner to elite. He is the club coach for Spike
Triathlon Club – the 2005 and 2006 National Triathlon Club Champions.
Regardless of ability, all athletes are given the same attention with the squad
motto always being “fitness and fun”.
Peter ‘Spud’ Murphy – Assistant Adult Coach and Juniors Coach
Peter “Spud” Murphy has been the squad assistant coach for the past 2 years.
Spud entered his first triathlon in Adelaide in 1998 and successfully completed
the swim leg as the only competitor without a wetsuit in the chilly 18 degree
water. This was also the first time he’d ever worn lycra! Since competing all
those years ago, Spud has now gone on to finish over 100 triathlons including 4
Ironman and 12 Half Ironman races. Spud’s best result at long course races
was 2nd place in his age group in Hell of the West, Goondiwindi in 2003.
Before triathlons, Spud was an avid AFL player from a well known football
family.
Spud obtained his level 1 triathlon accreditation in 2004 and is Fidler Sports’
junior triathlon coach as well as assistant adult coach. Spud has a canny
ability to remember famous lines from any movies and can recite them on request.
His personality is well suited to coaching and his sense of humour is a welcome
addition at any squad session….and squad parties.
Claire Fidler – Assistant Triathlon Coach
Claire has been competing in Triathlons since 2000 with her first race being
the Coomera Quarterman in which she placed an unexpected 3rd in her age group.
Claire’s background before triathlons was as a competitive swimmer and 1st VIII
rower during her school years. She also played competition waterpolo for 5
years and commenced her coaching career as a rowing coach for school girl
rowers.
Claire steadily improved in triathlons to the point where she represented
Australia at the 2002 Triathlon World Championships in Cancun, Mexico. At
that race she finished 2nd Australian across the line and 17th outright in her
first international competition. In 2003, Claire competed in the Forster
Half Ironman, placing 5th in her age group and qualifying for the Australian
Ironman Championships in Forster in April 2004. At her first attempt at
the full Ironman distance, she crossed the line in 11.13 hours, placing 9th and
being convinced that shorter races were more her style.
Claire has won her age group at numerous triathlons including Gold Coast, Raby
Bay and Bribie Island. She did however fail to uphold her end of the
bargain of winning the family double with her husband Troy when she finished
second at the Caloundra Triathlon in 2005, something he continually reminds her
of. Since that time, Claire has become a mother to an active 2 year-old,
Seth Fidler. She did, however, manage to place 2nd at her comeback race at
Noosa Triathlon 2006 and now races when time allows – not very often.
Claire completed her Level 1 Triathlon Accreditation in November 2004 and is a
competent assistant coach with her favourite discipline being the bike.
She is easily approachable and always the first person to make welcome any new
members to the squad.
Melanie Houghton – Assistant Swim Coach
Mel comes to the squad having reached the pinnacle in her chosen sport of
swimming. She has represented Australia at 3 World Championships, winning 2
silver and 1 bronze. Mel has twice been ranked in the top 10 in the world for
sprint Butterfly events and was an AIS Scholarship holder for swimming in 2005.
She is currently completing her Level 2 ASCA Strength and Conditioning Course
and has most recently been an apprentice coach at the Australian Institute of
Sport in this area. She is also a rehab trainer with Stott Pilates certification
and has her Certificate IV in Fitness. Mel has previously worked as a personal
trainer for some of the large health clubs and is now establishing her own
business in this area incorporating her many qualifications.
When she’s not passing on her extensive knowledge to Fidler Sports athletes, she
relaxes with music, cooking and friends and enjoys anything that involves the
sun and the beach (and is thankful to be out of Canberra!)
Gabby Trickey – Assistant Cycle Coach
So Gabby, tell us about yourself……
“I found cycling through the BRW triathlon series many years ago when my
boyfriend at the time was on a get fit regime. This led to competing in all of
the triathlons that were on at that time. In those days there were two big rides
that the cyclists did every Saturday: the Southside & the Northside ride, both
just over 100ks, the goal was to finish with the boys - if you achieved this
then you’d made it! The great lessons from this time were learnt from the
cyclists who follow strict cycling rules - they would tell you where you were
going wrong & whacked you over the helmet if you didn’t listen. Naturally over
the years I became stronger and some of my riding partners at the time were
great girls who went on to represent Australia. Once I was asked to give
encouragement to a girl called Sarah Carrigan – future Olympic champion. You can
imagine how I felt when she won the gold medal. It was fantastic to see such
achievement from someone who had at one time struggled with the sport.
I have ridden all around the world, on the courses of the Tour De France twice,
the Vuelta, the Giro d’Italia, participated in a number of cyclosportifs in
Europe – usually a race up a nasty mountain or series of mountains riding
shoulder to shoulder with thousands of European cyclists. In the States I was
lucky enough to participate in the Rose Bay Criterium a race that’s been going
since the 1930’s, very fast & furious!
I guess what I’m saying is cycling has given me more than I could ever have
imagined, my words of advice would be to enjoy yourself, relax, stay alert, look
after people you are riding with & always peddle – don’t coast!”