Congratulations to Jonathan Roper for being selected as Red Dog's Athlete of the Month for December 2023.

Jon wins this month's award for winning his match up at the Raby Bay Rumble and in the process, finished second in the race for the Red Jacket at 49 years young!!! Well done!  A big thank you to our sponsors for donating this month’s prizes.

1.Red Dog AOTM, how do you feel about that?

Well it has taken me 10 years to achieve this title, never give up on your dreams and to win it with the most prestigious race on the calendar is a bonus. 

2. When did you join the club?

In 2013, a friend brought me along to track and I immediately enjoyed the accountability of a squad training environment and Trent’s light-hearted banter which kept it fun.

3. How much training do you do at the moment?

I try to get 3 sessions of each discipline a week done.

4. What’s your most memorable session and why?

My first 40km TT at Nundah, it was like a sprint stage of the Tour de France, I was cut off by someone in the back bends and came off. I limped back to the start and Trent says to me, why did you stop?

5. Who’s your ideal training partner and why?

Someone who regularly turns up, sticks to the session and keeps you honest, but they must enjoy the post training banter and coffee.

6. Favourite motivational quote?

One Day or Day One? You decide. 

7. The one bit of advice I’d give to a newbie is…

When you start out you will want to race every training session especially in a squad environment and beat your mates, this is important to obtain bragging rights. But as you age you will need to be more measured with your efforts, if you want to remain uninjured and outlast your competition.

8. What’s your next event?

Mooloolaba Olympic.

 9. What do you do outside of training?

Family time, Netflix bingeing and watching sport.

10. What’s your one guilty pleasure?

European cycling trips with my mates, would go every year if I could. 

  
A list of all AOTM recipients can be found here