I thought it only appropriate to discuss this here on my website first as you guys who follow my diary on the site really are my inspiration, the messages you continually send me really keep me going!

I've absolutely loved my time in ITU racing, from taking a silver medal at the 2001 World Age Group Champs, to winning the 2008 ITU World Cup overall. I've had some amazing experiences and worked with equally amazing people.

2009 wasn't the year I'd hoped it would be, the transformation of the ITU World Cup into the Dextro World Championship Series has been an exciting time in triathlon, and due to circumstances out of my control, it's been something I've really missed being part of. If the broken ribs in 2009 were a road block, this years broken wrist I'm starting to think of as a re-direction sign! Things really have been sent to test me. Andrea, Bevan, Kris, Debs, and all the other athletes really do have an exciting time ahead of them in the WCS and I wish them well on that journey.

For me though I've decided to move on from ITU racing. Lately I've enjoyed success at the Half Ironman distance, winning a few '70.3' distance races over in America. I'm really enjoying my 70.3 racing and it's something I'd like to focus more on.

I've always held dreams of racing at Kona too, but it's not something that seemed a reality, combining ITU and Kona just isn't possible.

Hence I've made the decision to focus on 70.3 racing with a view to building toward an attempt at Kona in 2011.

The support everyone has given me over the years really does excite me, I hope you can all see this as an evolution in my career rather than an exit, and get behind me one more time, for a challenge of Ironman proportions!

I'll leave the details of my build up to the media, I need to keep it a little exciting for you guys! But just thought you should hear this first from me. I've filmed a piece on the story with Michelle Pickles @ TV3 and it's due to air on the 6 o'clock news Saturday 26th June. 

Thanks again for your amazing emotional support over the past decade, and I really hope I can bring you more exciting stories over the next 18 months.

Yours,

Sam.