Troy G. Fidler – Head Coach and Director of Fidler Sports
With 26 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 no longer competes but maintains a high level of
fitness with the occasional bike race or ocean swim thrown in.
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, 2006 and 2007 National Triathlon Club Champions.
Regardless of ability, all athletes are given the same attention with the squad
motto always being “fitness and fun”.
Jason Christophers – Assistant Triathlon Coach
Words from ‘JC’...
About 10 years ago, not long after I was divorced and tipping the scales at a
neat 100 kegs, I felt it was time I did something a bit more active. So, as with
a lot of other people, I found myself entered into the BRW triathlon on the Gold
Coast with a couple of workmates. Having nearly done the 400m in swimming
training, on a borrowed bike and some old court shoes, I finished my first race.
The bug well and truly bit. I did another race in the same vein not long after
at Robina and then did Noosa later that year.
The next season I met this bloke called Troy Fidler who was some Australian
champion I’d never heard of. He had just started up Spike Triathlon Club and
before I knew it I was competing in my first half ironman triathlon in Canberra.
Since then, I have done many more races, including Busselton in 2004 and Forster
in 2005, a marathon, other half ironman races, Olympic distance triathlons as
well as the local sprint races.
In 2007, myself and some friends had a team compete in the Kokoda Challenge in
the Gold Coast hinterland (a 96k trail run) and we finished with a credible 5th
place. This was an achievement for me as running is not my favourite discipline,
give me the bike any day!
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 two children, Seth and
Coco. She did manage to place 2nd at her comeback race at Noosa Triathlon
2006 and now races when time allows – not very often, especially since returning
to full-time work.
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.
Janelle Hilyard Boyschau - Swim Coach
In Nelle’s words....
“My passion for swimming began at a young age and I became consistently involved
with the sport at a competitive level throughout high school. My coaching
career began as a teenager where at 15 I began coaching multiple squads (all
ages, all strokes) in my hometown of Goulburn. I became fully qualified in 1978
as a general R.N. with post-graduate psychiatric, nursing throughout Goulburn,
Sydney, Brisbane and Europe.
After having children I continued nursing and completed Level 1 coaching through
Queensland Aussie Masters. My coaching career continued through my five year
co-coaching position with the Swimfit squad at Centenary pool, coupled with an
adult squad coaching role at Oxley State School on a seasonal basis.
I was consistently involved with relief coaching for adult mini squads at Ithaca
Creek State School pool, and since then have been employed regularly as a
freelance private coach specialising in stroke correction. I have returned
to my old stomping ground at Centenary Pool coaching under Troy with Fidler
Sports and am thoroughly enjoying the challenge!
When I’m not at the pool or running the household, I love being in the ocean or
doing anything creative, and am well known for being a self-proclaimed op-shop
junkie!
John Whip – Cycle Coach
Johnny Whip is a cycling coach and yoga teacher who runs a small yoga studio
and bicycle wholesale business from his home in The Gap. He also runs the Ffast
Cycling Club from this venue.
Whip won his first race in 1957 and has been involved in the local cycling scene
since then (except for the ten years he went off chasing waves).
His cycle coaching places a strong emphasis on technique. Posture (bike set-up),
pedalling, the different techniques required for flatland, ascending, descending
and cornering as well as an understanding of how the bike works.
Whip has taken on a coaching role with Fidler Sports to monitor and mentor the
“Low Pressure Bunch” on Troy’s popular Saturday enduro ride and is grateful for
the opportunity to work with such a fine squad.