Lottery win of a lifetime

FORGET Powerball or Oz Lotto , Minnamurra triathlete Bob Sinclair has won the ultimate lottery.

He will contest the gruelling Hawaii Ironman in October after winning a spot through an Internet ballot.

Sinclair is one of ten Australians and 200 people worldwide selected through the Internet lottery to compete in the event, which will be held on October 13.

He has been trying to win a place in the Ironman through the Internet contest for the past 12 years.

"I"ve had e-mails and phone calls from friends in Sydney and Melbourne saying congratulations," Sinclair said.

A veteran of 17 Australian and New Zealand ironman triathlons, Sinclair described winning a berth in the sport"s most well-known and prestigious event as "a dream come true."

"It"s a dream come true , competing in Hawaii has been a dream of mine for a long time," he said.

"I have given everything for the past ten years to make it.

"A mate of mine said it doesn"t matter how you get there, you have got to do it.

"Everyone who plays a sport has a goal , competing at Hawaii is the holy grail of my sport."

Sinclair will be one of 1500 competitors to line up for the Ironman, which will be held on Kona, Hawaii"s biggest island. The race will include a 3.8km swim, 185km bike ride and marathon-distance run.

The lottery was Sinclair"s last realistic shot at winning a spot in Hawaii after he came close to qualifying on his Australian Ironman times in 1997 and 1999.

"After I did my 10th Australian Ironman I have been having a good time and not focussing on doing a qualifying time," he said.

However, now that his dream is reality, Sinclair is preparing for a winter of training to prepare for the event.

"We"re 25 weeks out from the event , at the start of June I"ll really be putting in the big miles to get ready," he said.

"I have thought more about training since I knew than I have in the past ten years."

Sinclair is no stranger to the conditions, as he watched the Hawaii Ironman first hand in 1996 and 2003.

"My training partner (Minnamurra"s Doug Luckman) competed in 2003 and I went over there to support him," Sinclair said.

"The temperature that year was 46 degrees in the shade at 4pm.

"The water temperature is fine, but the second half of the bike leg is into a strong headwind.

"On the run leg you travel through lava fields and the black rock reflects the heat, making temeratures pretty hot."

Sinclair also said he would like to thank Des Howley of Kiama Cycles for his support of Kiama Triathlon Club.

He is also looking for sponsors to help him achieve his ironman dreams , any businesses or individuals that can help should call him on 0409 999 040 for further information.