Early Sunday morning the Aruba International Triathlon launched on Eagle Beach with almost 100 participants from Aruba, Curacao, Venezuela, and the USA, in three categories, Sprint, Olympic & Relay Race.
The Triathlon featured swimming, cycling and running on a gorgeous stretch of oceanfront on Eagle Beach, for the 24th annual edition of the Triathlon, Aruba’s version of the Iron Man/Woman competition, held here for the twenty second time.
The International Triathlon had a Mom & Pop feel to it, as it was organized by a committee of volunteers with zero government or official backing.
The Aruba Tourism Authority included the international event on its annual calendar of events but this was as far as the endorsement went.
The 22nd Aruba International Triathlon, for the 24th year in a row, was exclusively fueled by the enthusiasm of the runners, and the willingness of the volunteers, with race director Eric Gomes at the helm, to make it happen and push it forward.
Eric, a retire fireman, with 30 years of fire-fighting under his belt in the Netherlands and Aruba, is the motor behind the committee assisted by secretary Glenda Croes and many other volunteers.
They owns a trailer, and some stop watches, besides a big heart, which jumpstarts the competition each year.
Together they manage the grass root event, held this time on Eagle Beach which is great for spectators, but imperfect for participants due to the deplorable, chipped and bumpy state of the asphalt top coat on the Eagle Beach scenic road.
But nevertheless, it was a glorious day, with participants of all ages, having a great time, competing against a backdrop of loveliness.
The Venezuelans in the race showed up with family members and supporters in tow, combining a family vacation at the Holiday Inn with a competitive sport event.
The winner of the race from 24 years ago, from Aruba, was among winners this year as well.
A Grandpa, Father and Grandson trio ran the relay, all members of the van Schijk family, from Aruba, besides colleagues and friends, women who wanted to expand their horizons, men who decided to probe their limits and youngsters who explored their own budding capabilities, all meeting on the beach at sunrise, to swim, cycle, run and have fun.
Eric, who grows watermelons in his garden, in honor of the competition, cracked up 10 large, juicy ones, this Sunday. He would do anything to promote the event. And his dream is to equip each runner with a chip next year, and track each runner down by computer; he is looking for four sponsors to foot the bill and make his dream come true. Meanwhile everybody had a great time! And official results will follow.
Thursday, October 14th, 2010 
Last year’s Honor Division amateur soccer champions, Britannia, from the neighborhood of Piedra Plat, defeated newcomer Caravel of the neighborhood of Sta. Cruz 2 – 1 in Sunday night’s, October 10, 2010, soccer match held in the Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadium in Dakota.
