Race #63

For the first time this season Auckland laid on a much awaited summer’s day for competitors in Race #3 of the Eta Ripples Stroke & Stride Series.  These conditions and a longer swim and shorter run gave seventeen year old Nicola de Lautour the edge to finally beat Heidi Alexander and record her first ever victory in a Stroke & Stride.  Heidi had won the first two races in the Series but couldn’t catch Nicola over the 1000 metre swim and 3 kilometre run in the third race of the Series.

Swimming conditions at St Heliers Bay were excellent and Nicola came out of the water with the first bunch of women that included Nicola Wills, Marisa Pentecost and Debbie Tanner.  Heidi Alexander was 40 seconds down after the swim leg and later commented that she was feeling flat from all her recent racing.  When the run leg is just 3 kilometres you have to have some serious leg speed if you want to make a move on your opposition.  And leg speed is just what Nicola de Lautour showed as she ran away from the rest of the field and picked up maximum points and plenty of confidence for the remainder of the Series.

Nicola said she was more relieved than anything about her win: “Once you’ve got through that mental barrier of knowing you can win, it gets easier to do it again.” Heidi Alexander may not have won this time but she made sure of second place as she edged home Marisa Pentecost who was followed in by Sue Clark and Debbie Tanner.

Reigning Series Champion Brent Foster is another whose hectic racing schedule has perhaps left him feeling a bit flat of late. But Brent obviously got a few nights good sleep leading into this race as he lead from start to finish to win by more than minute.  Current Series leader and winner of Races #1 and #2, Nathan Richmond chances for victory may have been dashed in the transition from swim to run.  Brent Foster had again lead from the water with John Munro and Nathan Richmond following him in just 15 seconds adrift.  Next into transition were Robbie Baff,  Will Green, Brendon Downey and James Morgan.

While everyone else was setting off in pursuit of Foster, Nathan Richmond was left struggling with the zip on his wetsuit, which refused to release him.  At the end of the 3 kilometre run to Kohimarama and back Brent Foster was all on his own as he crosses the finish line in first place recording the biggest winning margin this season.  Nathan Richmond finally releases himself from his wetsuit’s rubbery grip to get back up for second place.  Will Green again shows no respect for his elders and takes third ahead of Brendon Downey and another youngster Sam Walker.