Sponsorship

Sean has established a strong working relationship with his sponsors who have provided assistance and opportunities throughout Sean’s career. Below is a brief history and some information regarding each sponsor.

Canton Lounge Bar / Brooks / Glen Parker Cycles

The most recent addition to Sean’s sponsorship list is a deal between not one but three separate businesses, The Canton Lounge Bar, Brooks Construction and Glen Parker Cycles. While this seems like a complex relationship it is one that is proving to be very successful. Having just completed the Busselton Half Ironman with the 2nd fastest overall bike split (2:10:21) Sean puts it down to his new Azzuri Time Trial bike and cycle coaching tips from Russell Brooks.

Russell Brooks is a name synonymous with Cycling in WA as he has been a long time “A” grade cyclist and strong supporter of the sport. Russell was instrumental in setting up the partnership between the parties and being owner of the Canton Lounge Bar and Director of Brooks Construction, provided 50% of the sponsorship. Sean has known Russell for many years through the sport of cycling and also visits Russell’s wife (Nathalie Laurendeau) for chiropractic treatment on a regular basis.

The Canton Lounge Bar, owned by Russell Brooks and his brother Nevis is an exciting new venue located on Hay St in the Perth CBD. The building has been tastefully restored with rooms available for private functions, a grand bar for after-work drinks or a relaxing outdoor terrace to catch up with friends. It offers great food, an extensive wine list and fantastic cocktails. Sean can often be found there on a Friday night enjoying a social drink with work colleagues after a hard week of work and training.

During his spare time Russell Brooks works for Brooks Construction, a family owned building company that specialise in residential housing of the highest standards. Brooks has established themselves as a family builder capable of delivering home improvements, additions and complete new homes that will exceed all expectations.

Glen Parker Cycles (Nedlands) is owned and operated by Hilton McMurdo and Dennis Lightfoot who are both active participants in the cycling scene. The small shop on Stirling Hwy stocks a huge range of road bikes from entry level right through to the top end, with specialist brands such as Cervello and Pinarello. The servicing is second to none with an experienced team that have raced at a state, national and even international level on the track, mountain biking, time trial, road racing and triathlon.

Sean is currently riding a McMurdo Pro Road bike while training and for various road race and short course triathlon events. It is a full carbon frame with Ultegra groupset and Ksyrium wheels. The bike is light, stiff and super responsive and Sean claims it is hard to find better value in a road bike anywhere.

For time trials and long course triathlon Sean is riding the brand new Azzuri Chrono Pro that was tested at the Busselton Half Ironman for the first time. Having never ridden a time trial bike in the past, Sean credits his improved bike split at Busselton to the new bike. Sean is looking forward to getting more use out of the Time Trial bike this year and hopes to set a blistering pace on the flat course at the World Long Course Triathlon Champs in October.

SRG Corporate Insurance Brokers

SRG is a name that many people will know in the WA Triathlon and Cycling scene due to the generous support by director Rod Fitzgerald. SRG became involved in the sport of Triathlon over three years ago in a partnership with event management company Trievents, which still exists today. SRG sponsored the “hot lap” concept that awarded prizes to the fastest individual splits in each of the three disciplines. Since then SRG has continued to raise the profile of the sport with their involvement at the Busselton Half Ironman each year and contribution towards the Triathlon WA Awards Night.

Sean came to know Rod Fitzgerald after an unfortunate bike accident back in January 2007. On his way home from work and trying to squeeze in an extra training ride Sean was travelling at high speed (approx 50km/hr) when a large 4wd braked suddenly in front of him. Not having enough time to stop, Sean narrowly avoided the 4wd by swerving down the left hand side of the car only to see another vehicle turning left into a side street. In the blink of an eye Sean collided into the boot of the turning car and catapulted over the front of the bike and through the back window. After assuring the old lady in the driver’s seat that everything was alright, Sean climbed out the rear door to find his new carbon fibre road bike in four pieces across the road. Thankfully there were very little injuries but a new road bike and over $2,000 to pay for the damage to the car was still going to hurt.

Sean soon realised that his insurance cover at the time was inadequate and he began to look for something that would cover him while riding, not just if the bike was stolen from home. SRG sourced the best product on the market covering all of Sean’s specified sporting goods whether at home, in the car, on the training track or even overseas. Seeing a need within this market, SRG has more recently developed a new product called “Bikesure”. This is a tailored home and contents policy with an unspecified limit of $10,000 for bikes and includes worldwide cover, damage whilst in use (even racing!) and theft in open air if the unfortunate happens while sipping a latte at your favourite coffee shop.

Not only does SRG provide excellent personal and business insurance services but they have a strong training group that ride together at least 3 times per week. Sean often rides on the usual Thursday morning river ride with this group and occasionally heads to the hills of a weekend. You will often see the SRG cycling kits in force riding around the river, at the occasional Cyclosportif event, ATTA Time Trial’s and other cycling events.

Dexion Balcatta

Dexion as many people would know provide storage solutions for homes, offices, warehouses, factories and workshops to name just a few. Their products include pallet racking, shelving, filing cabinets and storage bins along with a new KolorKode filing system for businesses. The products below are just a small example of what Dexion can provide.

So what does storage and filing have to do with triathlon? Well, being a locally owned and operated business, Bruce Dewar from Dexion Balcatta has had a long affiliation with endurance events, including triathlon in WA. Bruce has made numerous solo crossings of the Rottnest Channel, competed at Ironman WA, finished last years 2 day Great Southern Adventure Race and is also doing Anaconda Augusta later this year to name just a few. Bruce isn’t the only endurance addict in the family with his brother Craig also doing his fare share of events. Both Bruce and Craig will be in opposing teams this year at the Great Southern so we look forward to seeing the result of that one.

Sean has swum with Bruce down at Challenge Stadium as part of the Peter Tanhem squad for a number of years and after qualifying for a professional licence this year Bruce generously offered to provide some assistance. This assistance will allow Sean to attend some of the interstate races this year and possibly a few international events if they fit in the calendar.

So keep an eye out for the Dexion outfit at this year’s Anaconda Augusta and if your business is looking for some storage or filing solutions feel free to check out the Dexion website www.dexionbalcatta.com.au or give them a call.