Founder - Craig Riddington - Ironman
Craig Riddington, is one of the highest profile and most successful Ironman Champions and Surf lifesaving Champions in Australia.
Since he began his career in Surf Lifesaving as a member of the Manly Junior Life Saving Club at the age of 10, Riddington - or 'Riddo' as he is known - has collected 21 State, 12 Australian and two world championships in Ironman and Surf Lifesaving events. A recently released book titled The Greatest Surf Life Savers in History hailed Riddo as the 'greatest surf swimmer ever' and amongst the top 25 competitors in the history of the movement.
A potentially fatal injury forced him out of Ironman competition in 1992. Riddo made a courageous comeback in 1993 and competed for the next three seasons with highly credible results. In 1996 he made the decision to retire from competitive sport.
His retirement did not mean withdrawal from the sport he loves, rather he 'hung up his Speedos' to take on coaching and management roles.
Craig was one of the founders of the Uncle Tobys Ironman Super Series. For the past 15 years, Craig Riddington has been an ambassador for the sport. This is due to his dedication, athletic ability and love of competition. The past has seen Craig achieve great success in competition - the future sees him lending his experience and expertise to the development of the sport, and to fulfilling the mission of SEA Australia.
Sporting Highlights
World Ranked 200m, 400m 800m Freestyle, 200m, 400m Individual Medley
Represented NSW & Australia Open & age group swimming
1979 1st Australian Cadet Surf Race Champs
1980 3rd 400m Freestyle Pan Pacific Games
1981 Broke record for Huntington Pier Swim, Los Angeles
1981 2nd Australian Open Surf Race Champs
1981 3rd World Surf Race Champs
1981 Winner 5 State Open & Age swimming titles
1982 1st Australian Junior Surf Race Champs
1982 2nd Australian Junior Ironman Champs
1983 2nd World Ironman Champs
1983 2nd World Surf Swim Champs
1984 3rd Inaugural Coolangatta Gold
1984 1st Australian Open Interstate Ironman Champs
1984 1st NSW Open Ironman Champs
1985 1st Australian Open Interstate Ironman Champs
1986 1st Australian Open Interstate Ironman Champs
1986 1st Australian Marathon Swimming Champs
1986 3rd Australian Ironman Champs
1987 2nd Australian Open Ironman Champs
1988 2nd Australian Open Surf Race Champs
1988 3rd Australian Open Ironman Champs
1988 1st World Surf Race Champs
1989 2nd Nutri-Grain Series Champs
1988 2nd World surf race Championship
1989 1st SLSA Australian Open Surf Race Champs
1989 1st Glenelg Nutrigrain Ironman series
1990 3rd SLSA Australian Open Ironman Champs
1990 2nd SLSA Australian Open Surf Race Champs
1990 2nd SLSA Australian Open Surf Race Champs
1990 2nd Uncle Tobys Ironman Series
1991 2nd Waikiki Rough Water Swim
1996 1st World 30+ yrs Ironman Champs
1996 1st World 30+ yrs Surf Swim Champs
2000 1st World 35+ yrs Ironman Champs