Four times Ironman triathlete, Ronald Windsor age 52 of Mt Albert Auckland
was killed out training for the Ironman in Taupo, this March.

On a straight piece of road, a car travelling in the opposite direction lost
control in front of Ron, went into a bank and bounced back into his path.
He died at the scene

At this stage, we don't have any details of the funeral arrangements.

Ron certainly fitted the bill of a passionate Ironman.  Of slight build, Ron
has gone under 12 hours at Taupo twice.  So keen, he had a personalised
Ironman plate, for his car.

Ron was most certainly a streetwise cyclist, making this unfortunate
accident even harder to comprehend.  Rather than put in his big rides
amongst the traffic on the roads around the city, Ron drove his car over 20
km to the Alfriston Hall and rode a very popular block that went out through
Hunua over the 1997 Auckland Ironman course and then back via Kaiaua and
Clevedon.  A very safe ride with only three to four km on busy State Highway
2.  It was on this busy section of road that the accident occurred.

Ron's last race was only a couple of weeks ago at the Taupo ½ Ironman where
he PB'ed in a time of 4:55.  This included a very impressive 2:40 bikes
split. He finished 35th in the veteran men section out of nearly 100
competitors and was third man in the 50 plus age group.

Ron and his wife Nola are safe in the knowledge that this special Christmas
was shared with their only son Paul who currently lives in Scotland and was
visiting for Christmas.

Shane Hooks