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In 362 days time Gisborne, on New Zealands East Coast, will be the first city in the world to see the light of the new Millennium. Today Gisborne played host to the Family Network Television 1999 New Zealand Triathlon Championships. The day dawned windy but by race time was simply beautiful. A highly appreciative crowd were treated to a fantastic spectacle in NZ's first ever draft legal national championship race.
In the women's race Louise Soper lead by 1 minute from the water ahead of Sue Curtis and Shanelle Barrett. It took until the final lap of the 8 lap cycle for Soper to be reeled in. Heidi Alexander was nearly 3 minutes down after the swim and worked strongly with junior Nora Moeke to finish only 1 minute down on the leading trio at the end of the cycle. The Scott Molina coached Barrett proved too strong on the run and pulled away for a convincing victory. 1998 title holder Alexander was unable to reduce the gap on Barrett. Barrett's previous best performance at Nationals was a second behind Evelyn Williamson two years ago.
The mens race provided closer and more exciting racing. A group of five exited the swim together consisting of Craig Watson, Nathan Richmond, Stephen Sheldrake, Zachary Young and Brent Foster. Defending Champion Cameron Brown missed catching a crucial wave and exited the water around 25 seconds in arrears. Brown was required to chase the leaders to keep his hopes of a title defence alive and catch the leaders he did. After Brown joined the lead pack Brent Foster was dropped leaving five men together heading into the final transition.
In the deciding run it was a sharp looking Craig Watson who moved well clear to claim victory and his first New Zealand title. Last years champion Brown had to be content with 2nd place.
For Watson the New Zealand title will boost his confidence as he heads across the Tasman to contest the On Line St George F1 series. Brown looks a good prospect for next weekends Half Ironman at Mount Maunganui.
Results
MEN
1 Craig Watson 1.51.37
2 Cameron Brown 1.53.03
3 Nathan Richmond 1.53.26
4 Kris Gemmell 1.54.42
5 Reon Park 1.54.49
6 Andrew Vane 1.54.54
7 Stephen Sheldrake 1.56.11
WOMEN
1 Shanelle Barrett 2.07.57
2 Heidi Alexander 2.09.28
3 Sue Curtis 2.11.36
4 Louise Soper 2.12.56
5 Nicole Cope 2.13.37
6 Sue Clark 2.14.43
7 Nora Moeke 2.18.00
AGE GROUP
MEN
Andrew Young Silas Cullen Scott George
M20-24 M20-24 M20-24
02:07:03 02:08:05 02:08:59
Evan Seber Sam Raphael Matt Lock
M25-29 M25-29 M25-29
02:07:12 02:08:45 02:10:39
Steve Mellsop Kerry Harfird Martyn Birch
M30-34 M30-34 M30-34
02:07:21 02:14:12 02:15:02
Greg Donovan Mark Furlan Blari Cox
M35-39 M35-39 M35-39
02:10:43 02:10:45 02:11:08
Brian Foster Euan Mackenzie Martin Stam
M40-44 M40-44 M40-44
02:13:08 02:14:48 02:18:30
John Hellmans Jon Spar Shorty Clark
M45-49 M45-49 M45-49
02:05:06 2:11:16 02:20:29
Morris Hall Eion Fredrickson Bob Loan
M50-54 M50-54 M50-54
02:31:55 02:40:40 02:42:02
Max Clark
M55-59
02:27:16
Bob Goddard Joseph McCallum
M60-64 M60-64
02:35:03 02:54:21
Alec Hill Michael Dalton Anthony Sepie
M65-69 M65-69 M65-69
03:05:45 03:17:09 03:22:57
WOMEN
Anna Cheyne Felicity Lennox
W20-24 W20-24
02:36:51 02:40:08
Louise Thompson Nicola Baudinet Brigitte Nimmo
W25-29 W25-29 W25-29
02:25:16 02:28:36 02:30:22
Gayle Clark Julie Cree Anna Tyler
W30-34 W30-34 W30-34
02:29:58 02:41:41 02:53:09
Josie Sinclair SharonDucker
W35-39 W35-39
02:28:53 02:39:52
Sherryll Willians
W40-44
02:59:13
Lee Dawe Iris Thomas Shirley Rolston
W45-49 W45-49 W45-49
02:43:42 03:03:14 03:10:04
Liz McFadden
W50-54
02:40:24
Judy Thomas
W55-59
03:14:09