Chris Sanson and Rebecca Elliott (Wellington) took out the elite titles at the .kiwi Duathlon National Championships at the Taupo Motorsport Park today, coping best with the blustery conditions.
The day dawned cool and overcast but thankfully the rain stayed away for the close to 500 participants in the event that also host the .kiwi National Schools titles.
Sanson went solo early on and was never challenged in the 10k run, 40k bike and 5k circuit, claiming national title honours with relative ease.
"That wasn't too bad, the bike was pretty tough, but I had a good run so that was good. The wind was mixing around a little, with the tailwind we were going up the hills and it seemed like we had to climb with the wind in front of us as well! It was pretty tough out there. The plan was to get out in front and stay there, that was the plan from the start. A couple of guys stayed with me for the first couple of k and then I put the foot down a little and got on with it. This is building up for the summer, this is a great event for this time of the year, it is a great event to clear the cobwebs and get ready for some racing in the summer."
Rebecca Elliott was racing at this level for the first time and was not put off at all by the conditions.
"It was good, pretty gusty in the wind but coming from Wellington I think was an advantage for me today, it was good, a good race. The cold wasn't too bad, a ten k run warms you up for the bike so I didn't think it was too bad at all. I would like to try a couple of Tri's over the summer in elite races, this is a good build up for the Tri season for sure."
Former international cricketer and these days TV and radio personality Mark Richardson was another to take part today. On a path that he hopes will take him to the ITU Age Group World Championships in Chicago in 2015, the man known as Rigor struggled with a dodgy back, in particular off the bike.
"I started with a stiff back, too much sitting in cars and at a desk. You don't feel it in the first ten k's but then on the bike, oh my god when I got off the bike I was in a world of trouble, my back was cramping and stiff but it sort of loosened up after a few k.
"The biking is coming along, I have only been biking for about a year, my running I am just trying to hold my fitness after running marathons and the swimming, I am awful in the pool, that is not getting any better. I thought this would be easier today without a swim but if anything it was harder. The hill over the back was not much fun but charging around the corners on the motorsport circuit where it is nice and smooth, that is a heck of a lot of fun. But I have to say, these are tough events, a sprint two weeks ago and this one now, but they are so much fun, I love it."
There was great fun and a serious edge too when the younger competitors took to the race course, with titles on the line from U12 up in schools categories, as well as fun events for beginner athletes looking to dip their toes in the sport for the first time.
Renowned Paralympic cyclist Fiona Southorn turned to Duathlon for the first time, having done some running during a winter off her bike training programme and took home a national title in the PT4 Category.
Results: .kiwi Duathlon National Champs
Click here for complete results including age groups.
Elite Open Men
1. Chris Sanson
2. Clive Cooper
3. Michael Calway
Elite Open Women
1. Rebecca Elliott
2. Liana Costello
Elite U23 Men
1. Matt Franklin
2. Sam Bell
3. Michael Perree
Elite U23 Women
1. Martina Fellman
2. Danielle Parkinson
Paratri PT4
1. Fiona Southorn
National Schools Champs
U12 Male
1. Oliver Marshall
2. Adam Francis
3. Will Tidswell
U12 Female
1. Natalya Carter
2. Noya Oporto
3. Sam MacKinder
U13 Male
1. Dylan McCullough
2. Kiaan Watts
3. Samuel Phillips
U13 Female
1. Krystal Clark
2. Christy Tate
3. Emily Hacket Pain
U14 Male
1. Jared Pidcock
2. George Ellett
3. Saxon Morgan
U14 Female
1. Olivia Corrin
2. Phoebe Young
3. Alicia Haskin
U16 Male
1. Trent Dodds 45:48
2. Henry Gautrey 46:26
3. Bradley Cullen 46:51
U16 Female
1. Katherine Badham 53:42
2. Eva Goodisson 56:13
3. Elle Wintle 56:30
U19 Male
1. Leo Roper 58:53
2. Mitchell Rutter 1:00:19
3. Christian Davey 1:00:46
U19 Female
1. Kiri Atkin 1:10:18
2. Maddy Evans 1:16:05
3. Nicole Emslie 1:18:45
