Race #49

While most of Auckland was subjected to the torrential rain and thunderstorms that were forecast; competitors for the fifth race in the Stroke & Stride Series missed out on the rain and were treated to some hot racing in their own micro climate at St Heliers Bay.

Jackie Read had won the last two races and was going for the hat trick over the women’s field as they started the choppy 750 metre swim.  11 minutes 27 seconds later she exited the water with a handy 50 second lead over the chasers that included Series Leader Megan Dalton and top triathlete Natasja Hilgeholt.  Jackie Read had been a successful competitor in the Surf Life Saving competition at Mt Maunganui during the weekend but still had the energy to hold off the challengers over the 4 kilometre run and take another win.  Megan Dalton again proved to be the only competitor to get close to Jackie Read as she finished second ahead of Natasja Hilgeholt.  Tracey Laurence was fourth, again just beating home Roxane Benney in fifth.  Next to finish was the crowd favourite, the junior junior, 13 year old Debbie Tanner.

With the absence of defending Men’s Champion Brent Foster (and winner of the last four races) the Men’s race was there for the taking by a number of contenders.  These included Chris Andrews, Tim Bowen, Ken Hight, Malcolm McGregor, Steven Mouldey and Nathan Richmond who were all well placed in the Series Grand Prix.

The first to exit the water after the 750 metre swim leg was Tim Bowen in 10 minutes 48 seconds with Nathan Richmond right on his toes.  Malcolm McGregor was out in 11 minutes 20 seconds and Chris Andrews in 12 minutes 5 seconds.

Once through transition and into the 4 kilometre out and back run to Mission Bay there was no stopping Nathan Richmond as he stamped his authority on the field with a classy victory.  World junior triathlon champion one year, Stroke & Stride winner the next.  Next to finish was the New Zealand sprint course triathlon champion, Rodney Gordon, despite being a minute and forty-five seconds down after the swim, his sub 13 minute run got him up for second place.  Third place went to Malcolm McGregor just ahead of Chris Andrews and swim leader Tim Bowen.

Last fortnight’s top finishers Brent Foster and Cameron Brown along with top woman Suzanne Clark were forced to miss this event because they were busy filming for Clash of the Codes.  See, fame is a burden.