The Teams

Meet the teams:

+ Team Manly
+ The Dark Horses
+ Fiji Time
+ Bula Fiji
+ Accor Blacks
+ Team Sa Yawa
+ The Wollongong Wonders
+ The Menzies
+ Base Back Packers
+ Team Wai (water)
+ Accor Domination

from the Manly Pacific Sydney, managed by Novotel

Karen Sainsbury – General Manager and Team Manly Captain
The oldest member of the team, Karen has weary bones and sore muscles but pushes through the barrier to motivate and lead the team on the road to Fiji.

Janette Comish – Team Coach and Team Member
When Team member Heidi Dunn had to unexpectly stand down from the team, Janette Comish who had been relentlessly coaching Team Manly did not hesitate to put her hand up. Janette is a very experienced triathlete who will add a new (and seriously competitive) dimension to the team and bring serious nutritional advice having previously run the Harvard Good Health Management Program for Accor.

Ros Collerson – Human Resources Manager
Ros our full-time chocaholic vows to quit over the coming weeks – her determination will see her through the rigorous training schedule (though she swears she is only coming to Fiji for the food and fun!).  Her favourite catch cry is “I’m doing it for the kids”

Andrew Hodges – Revenue and Reservations Manager
Our dark horse, Andrew has been training secretly in the pool and has just had his bike shipped from Melbourne, he is a training machine!  Andrew is so focused on the event he has given up alcohol for the duration of the training phase

John Raymond – Redshift Training
John Raymond from Redshift Training is well known to the other Team Manly members. He is replacing the injured John Bullen. Team Manly have recruited well with the hot to trot JR, who has arrived all trained up and will be competing in the Noosa Triathlon the week prior to heading to Fiji for the Kids.

Jeff Hermes – Team Captain
Roger Matthewman
Adele Petran
Aaron Wards
Martin Blaxell

PROFILE
The dark horses is a group of six people made up of four guys, one girl and a local Fijian national who they have yet to meet. The team is mostly from Novotel on Collins but they have secured the support of Adele Petran, Accor’s Regional Training Manager in Melbourne, who will ensure that we are all trained up in the necessary areas. After their latest training needs analysis they have ascertained they have a long way to go before they will be deemed competent. They have two gentlemen from Novotel Melbourne on Collins engineering department (Roger and Aaron) who will ensure that their equipment is always in perfect order. Lance Armstrong said `It's not about the bike' but these two will be held responsible for any lack of form. Martin who is a GSM at the hotel transferred there from Food and Beverage. With this experience they thought that he would be able to help in the transition phases of the event. Jeff, coming from a Food and Beverage  background will always ensure that the team is well hydrated during and after the event.

They are looking forward to travelling to another country to experience a different culture, even if briefly. Their key motivation is that they are doing this for the kids and trying to make a difference.

While the name is synonymous with the relaxed lifestyle in Fiji don’t be fooled by this electrifying and motivated team. They are here to play not to watch. Training for some month now and leaving many a broken sprit in their wake. FIJI TIME are survivors and a force that will be looking at line honours for the “Race” and one that will be satisfied with nothing less. They have the home ground advantage and they will use every part of this local knowledge to their advantage.

The team boasts National representatives in a number of sports coupled with trained ex military personal who are specifically trained in a number of “appropriate” areas for making Fiji Time one of the favourites to take out the race.

If there is a team to watch this is it.

Famous sports commentators have called this teams training sessions “pure poetry” other have seen the smiling Fijian faces turn to endurance machines totally focused on the job at had. To borrow a line from one of the worlds most famous sport commentators “this team sees too much training as barely enough”.

At this stage due to current security issues around the world the names and identities of the team members must remain a secret but as soon as appropriate and safe they will be released to the public.

One can only hope the pride of being in this amazing event can inspire the other teams to come close to the Fiji Time team in the Race.

Team Manager Sunny Hussain. (A brave man)

Look out Fiji’s spirit is alive and well.
“Bula Fiji” says it all about this team’s attitude to life and the race.  Team captain Tiffany explains that while the race is an incredible event to be involved in her team will incorporate Fiji traditions and lifestyle into their race and training plan using a more holistic approach than their more aggressive and fancied Fijian rivals – FIJI TIME.

While positions on the team were hotly contested an approach of cava and discussion was used to choose her team members allowing for a very balanced and like minded team focus. This team will no doubt be using their local knowledge to their advantage during the race with 5 out of the 6 members coming from Islands around the Mamanuca Group where the majority of the water content of the race will be. Tiffany says “we know the ocean we grew up on it and around it and we know how it can look after us”

The team does not have the international sports line up in personnel as it’s fellow Fijian team but has an amazingly balanced and harmonious training and preparation program that has seen the team members fully recovered from 12 km paddles and 2 km swims in record time. This will be an important factor in a race that is held over 5 days with back up stamina essential for accelerated muscle recovery.

Bula Fiji are definitely a ranking competitor in the race with local knowledge and exceptional mental strength being their trump cards. The balance of male and female team members will assist in balancing the water legs with land based events and of course distracting the other teams. 

Do not be fooled by the “Bula sprit” in this team when the starters gun firesthey will be here to race and win.

Olivier Lacoua
General Manager, Hotel Ibis Wellington and Team Captain
Wayne Greenwood
General Manager, Mercure Hotel Wellington
David Callan
Reservations Manager Mercure Hotel Auckland
Lee Watkins
Business Development Manager, Central Region, Accor Hotels & Resorts
Virginie Laplanche
Mercure Hotel Sydney

Where else could this team be from but New Zealand with their team name honoring New Zealand’s very own mighty All Blacks. Interestingly their Team Captain Olivier hails from France and Wayne is known to speak with a strong Australian accent. This being said and done, their determination as a team united by the New Zealand flag could just give them the heart to be very real contenders in The Accor Race to Survive to Cure Kids. All of these team members have already given substantial resources from their hotels and personally to Cure Kids in New Zealand and are determined toextend this to help the children of Fiji.

The Team has recently welcomed Virginie, another French touch currently residng in Sydney. Virginie will also bring some real style to what was an all boy team, already advising them on their survival accessories.

Hugo Johnston (Team Captain), General Manager Development, Accor
Elizabeth Gualtieri, Marketing Manager Strategic Brand Development, Accor
Catherine Pittaway, Legal Secretary, Accor
Justin Fabre , Accor Partner
Juliet Burston, Assistant to Director of Sales–Leisure, Accor
Wise Kunabuli – Sport and Turtle Hatchery Manager, Vomo Island Resort, managed by Sofitel

Lead by a fervent and experienced captain, Hugo Johnston, ‘Sa Yawa’ is excited to play their part in Cure Kids Fiji 2006. Hugo has competed in Cure Kids events in the past – Hugo offers the team positive guidance plus a wealth of sporting and fundraising knowledge. Elizabeth is embracing the positive challenge that is Race to Survive - she promises to be an enthusiastic motivator, ensuring ‘Sa Yawa’ reach the finish line. Catherine, Juliet and Justin have competed in sporting events in the past – they are drawing from their experiences to assist ‘Sa Yawa’ succeed as a team. Wise is amazingly fit and a local Fijian - team ‘Sa Yawa’ will look to Wise for tips on surviving sporting events in the Fijian environment.

What’s in a name? ‘Sa Yawa’ is a Fijian word that exclaims a meaning of ‘Wow!’ or ‘Fantastic!’. ‘Sa Yawa’ promises to be their team chant and approach to Accor Race to Survive to Cure Kids.

Josh Langerak
Robert Lee
Trevor Miller
Belinda Watson

Andrew Martin

Tanned, Toned and Terrific. Not only will this team from Wollongong win, but they will look damn fine doing it. This bunch of young guns not only has youth on their side but have teamwork that all other teams only dream about. There is no weak link in this team, as our team members are not just links in a chain, they are part of one solid unit. Fiji better brace themselves for a team that plays hard and parties even harder. Its now time to introduce the team

Josh Langerak :  In Room Dining and Team Captain to boot. As the youngest member of the Wollongong Wonders, this 'boy wonder' could be an underestimated competitor. If he puts the same amount of effort into competing as he does his hair styles this heartbreaker could well leave his competition in the dust. He is determined to show the other teams that experience counts for nothing, it’s all about youth endurance, A Physical education teacher in training his knowledge of re-hydration and other tactics will be sure to keep all his team members in the best shape possible.

Shannon Herrell – Executive Assistant Manager.  Shannon has been working hard already and is looking fast and lean.  All jokes aside, Shannon will pull this team through and as a doting father he has the will and the passion to help the kids of Fiji.

Kirsty Forbes- Sales and Marketing Coordinator – Team Captain
Kirsty has had a personal trainer for a few years now and is fit and athletic.  Her organisational skills will ensure Team Menzies keep their eye on the ball and focussed on the ultimate goal.

Rebecca Noel – Group Reservations Coordinator
Rebecca has been training hard and is working on honing her skills on the course.  This 2004 Miss Universe look-a-like is ready to take on the world in this event to help raise money for the children of Fiji.

Rachel Nicol – Conference and Catering Sales Coordinator.
Not a known athlete however her determination and organisation skills will ensure she is ready for the race.  Rachel is a very competitive minded person so be aware that she could be the dark horse of Team Menzies.

Dino Mezzatesta – General Manager Ibis Airport
Don’t be fooled by his physical stature.  A father of two beautiful girls, Dino will take his love of sport especially Soccer and bring out the years of training to compete at his very best.

Fiona Robertson: Director of Human Potential for base BACKPACKERS & Backpackers World Travel and team captain.
Fiona is always in search of recruits for not just jobs but anything which involves fun.  Fiona has given up the partying for the training however still tends to sink a vino or two prior to race day.  You can catch Fiona at any Fitness First she is an advocate for using all of the gyms in Sydney 

Steve Kaleta:  Area Manager Sydney Backpackers World Travel 
Steve is no stranger to a bike he rides to work everyday.  Steve also has no idea how to freestyle so watch out dogs here comes Steve.   Steve recently completed the City to Surf and ran the entire distance in less than 90 minutes.

Toby Shingleton: General Manager base BACKPACKERS Sydney
Toby is currently looking to purchase an underwater handheld jet ski to help him in the swim leg. So if you have any for sale, please contact Toby directly.  Toby spends his weekends in Akuna Bay just north of Sydney cycling he says the views are really nice but I am not too sure what view he is really talking about.  During the week Toby resides in the Scary Canary bar after work he always tells me he is training his arm….   

Anthony Johnston (AJ): Travel Consultant Backpackers World Travel
AJ resides in Manly and is a keen surfer and runner.  AJ is currently acclimatising in Darwin he has just advised the pool has reopened and the training has started again. Last month’s training schedule was spent in the Darwin bars.  AJ is our strongest competitor and with the acclimatising he has been doing he will certainly be leading the base pack. 

Tim Nicholson: Guest Service Attendant base BACKPACKERS Sydney
Tim is a fine athlete he is so committed to training he has flown to Bermuda for the next 6 weeks to train.  His training will revolve around swimming the triangle. On Tim’s return to Australia from his heavy training schedule he will be flying up to Magnetic Island to join the rest of the team to train for Outrigging and of course help us raise money in the Undie 500 event to be held on Fullmoon 24 September 22nd   

Team Wai is the only Fijian team to have circumnavigated the world in an outrigger canoe. This amazing feat will see this team take the prestigious position of the most favored team in the water events at this years Race for Survival.

The majority of the team is from a well known area that is world famous for their completive nature and aggressive training techniques. This fits in well under the tutelage of the team manger Sonny. Please see Sonny’s biography on the Race for Survival news page.

An emphasis on power and braun as opposed to thought will be interesting to reflect on after this tough 5 day race. Some of the team boast of their sustained mental toughness via traditional methods that should not be mentioned on these pages. This has helped them on prolonged training in the sea while preparing for the circumnavigation.

Wai has a reputation to protect and no doubt Fiji Wai will be out to show their superiority in the water. Wai is not only a team to watch but a team to be inspired by.

This team does have worldwide experience in similar events and could prove to be a real handful for the international teams in their home waters.

David Thacker
Adriano Biondi
Tony Filippi
Andrew Kennedy
Sean Farrow

The team is made up of three muscular Melbournians and two strong Sydney-siders. Although this team has been forced into the under-dog situation due to their late arrival, they may just prove to be a worthy contender.

The Melbourne component consists of the team’s Captain Sean Farrow, Assistant Manager from Novotel St Kilda, who is matched by his team mates from the Banquet Kitchens of Sofitel Melbourne, David Thacker and Adriano Biondi. Sydney has completed the team with Tony Filippi, General Manager of Mercure Ultimo Sydney and Andrew Kennedy, an Anaesthetist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

With the skills and determination this team possesses and also the real desire to help this great cause, you can be assured this team will use everything they have to make this a great.

TEAM KAI VITI

Orisi Dawai - Captain

Sotia

Sakiusa

Turukawa

Alfred Saukuru

Peceli Raique