Race Report:
(report from Suzanne Foster of the Canterbury Tri Club)

This race was destined to run smoothly, everyone had the advantage of an extra hours sleep due to daylight saving, the weather was perfect and the tide was high.

Registration and race brief were completed on the previous day followed by a pasta meal.

The senior race included a 600 metre swim, 17.1km cycle and a 4km run. Calm swim conditions saw Chris Kemp from Australia exit the water first in 7.15. The cycle course was a flat fast out and back ride with only a light easterly wind. Chris maintained his lead on the bike and run to win the race overall. Sam Walker of Avondale College managed to hold on to 2nd place from a fast finishing Josh Dyer. Third placed New Zealander was Hauke Horstmauu.

The senior girls race started at the same time as the senior boys race, slower swim times meant the girls were cycling in a bunch with some of the guys, drafting officials were less than impressed with some of the below par cycling skills and erractic cycling behaviour and felt that these seniors needed to be more familiar with drafting rules.

First Senior girl across the line was Chanelle Owen, this was particularly impressive as Chanelle is actually only a Intermediate age competitor but choose to race in the Senior division. Chanelle has only been racing three years but has gained quite a bit of experience from having raced a few standard distance races as well as having raced overseas in Japan. Her next race is the Australian Standard Distance race in Mooloolaba. Just 15 seconds in arrears was Ainslie Savage and 3rd place went to Leanne Matchett.

The Intermediate race was won by Will Green of St Kentigen and Debbie Tanner of Diocesan, these competitors swam 400metres, cycled 12.5kms and ran 3kms. James Elvery of Auckland Grammar and Michelle Hyland of Gisborne Girls were the winners of the Junior race which was contested over the same distances as the intermediate section.

Although there were more competitors in the Intermediate and Junior sections officials reported there was a lot less congestion on the cycling course. Also interesting was the quality of the cycles the young competitors were riding, some very expensive cycles and wheels were out on display.

All and all a really good day and a good showcase of New Zealands emerging talent.

Results:

NZ Secondary School Results
Name               School           Time

Senior Boys
Sam Walker         Avondale         46.26
Josh Dyer          Bethlehem        48.30
Hauke Horstmauu    Opotiki          52.35

Senior Girls
Chanelle Owen      Gisborne         54.37
Ainslie Savage     Marlborough Gi   54.52
Leanne Matchett    Pukekohe         55.31

Intermediate Boys
Will Green         St Kent          35.18
Scott Larsen       Takapuna         36.06
Clark Ellice       Auck Gram        36.43

Intermediate Girls
Debbie Tanner      Diocesan         41.00
Fiona Loan         Tauhara          41.25
Andrea Hewitt      ChCh Girls       41.52

Junior Boys
James Elvery       Auck Gram        38.00
Carl Allan         Paraparaumu      38.06
Robert Taylor      Whangamata       38.22

Junior Girls
Michele Hyland     Gisborne         40.16
Sonya Harkness     Taradale         41.58
Jade Gilbertson    Epsom Girls      42.22