Multisport Athlete Aaron Prince Blitz’s the Field

Top Multisport Athlete Aaron Prince Blitz’s the Field

Some of New Zealand’s leading multisport athletes raced on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th in the annual two day Tuatara Peninsula Race. Over 110 competitors consisting of teams and individuals ran, paddled and mountain biked a total distance of 85km’s from Christchurch to Akaroa.

Day one started with a tough 10km run from Taylors Mistake up to the Summit Road and over into Cass Bay. New Zealand orienteering representative Aaron Price dominated the run and had the lead into the run-kayak transition. Race rival Dick Brunton was hot on his tail. Karen Muller was the first female to arrive into the transition after a convincing lead in the run.

Brunton pulled off a very strong 13.5km kayak leg to move into first place at the end of the stage two. Prince pushed through to the front again in the 18.5km mountain bike ride from Purau up to the Summit Ridge before descending into Little River to the finish line.

At the end of day one the female section was very close with Pam Hewlett only having a 25 seconds advantage over Muller.

Day two dawned and competitors began with a fast 12.5km run from Little River along the Rail Trail to Birdlings Flat where they started their mountain bike stage. This consisted of a long grind up Bossu Road, around Peraki Saddle and down a very steep decline into Wainui. The final stage was the 12.25km paddle up to the Onawe Peninsula, across the Harbour and into Akaroa itself.

Brunton and Prince were neck and neck both taking their share of the lead on these 3 stages. Prince won overall in a time of 7hrs 26min, with Brunton in second place in a time of 7hrs 38min. It was a nail biting finish for the women’s title with Muller coming in first in a time of 9hrs 26min and Hewlett only 27 seconds behind in second place.

In the open men’s team section The Fairy’s consisting of Nathan Peterson and Ryan Kiesanowski were clear favourites particularly after having the fastest overall times for the kayak and mountain bike stages on day one. They won in a speedy time of 7hrs 1min, a convincing lead of 21 minutes from Team One Square Meal.

The first open women’s team to come in was Kiwi Coached Chicks consisting of Bridget Murdoch and Kim Johnston in a time of 9hrs 34min.

Veteran Men’s team Captain Cookers won convincingly, with team member Keith Alderson having the fastest kayak leg on day two by over 5 minutes. Fervent Femmes took out the Veteran Women’s title in 9hrs 54min. Team Character Homes won the corporate section in a time of 7hrs 24min, with the Talbot Turbos 58min’s behind in second place.

Team Canoe & Outdoor World won the Open Mixed division, with Tuatara Terrors taking out the Veteran Mixed title.

For full race results go to www.bloodygoodevents.co.nz

Men 1 Aaron Prince 7hrs26min 2 Dick Brunton 7hrs38min 3 Paul Current 7hrs53min 4 Dane Harris 8hrs11min 5 Rhys John 8hrs15min

Women 1 Karen Muller 9hrs26min36sec 2 Pam Hewlett 9hrs26min57sec 3 Eleanor Wooff 10hrs26min 4 Ilda Inglis 10hrs38min 5 Emma de Lacy 10hrs44min

ENDS

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