Race #56

The six week break between Race #3 and Race #4 in this season’s Stroke & Stride Series allowed for a number of changes to take place.  The 1996 calendar was changed to 1997.  Christmas presents were exchanged.  Two tropical cyclones yisited Auckland before moving on down the country.  Stroke and Stride competitors took the opportunity to compete in various sports events or just kick back and relax over the annual holidays.  A quick glance at the results of the first race of 1997 could have one thinking that it was a replay of the final race of 1996.  The distances were the same, the leaders at the end of the swim were the same and at the end of the day the race victors were the same.  But there were subtle differences.

The women’s field got underway under fine skies and calm seas.  Again Nikki Tanner showed that she in a class of her own during the swim leg exiting with a handy half minute lead.  Also prominent were a couple of newcomers to the Series, Juliet Tompkins and Amy Brookes-Peterson closely followed by Debbie Tanner.  Next to emerge was Jo Craddock, Natasja Hilgeholt and Nicola de Lautour with a break back to Roxane Benney and Series leader Heidi Alexander.  In the previous race Debbie Tanner took the lead from her sister during the run and held out the fast finishing Heidi Alexander for her first ever Stroke & Stride victory.  This time out Debbie again wrestled the lead from Nikki but had to contend with top ranked intemational triathlete Natasja Hilgeholt closing on her during the final metres of the run.  Having tasted victory once Debbie has obviously grown to like it and wasn’t going to be denied her second win in a row.  Natasja’s second placing in her first outing for the season was an encouraging start for the year. Fastest run of the day again went to Series Leader Heidi Alexander which on this occasion got her up for third place just ahead of Nicola de Lautour.  Amy Brookes-Peterson is another outstanding swimmer that can also record a more than useful run leg which added up to a fine fifth place.

Trent Bray again made short work of the 1000 metre swim and showed a clean pair of heels to the chasing men.  Unfortunately for Trent and the rest of the men’s field his closest challenger was all on his own just 20 seconds behind Trent and over half a minute in front of third place.  The unfortunate thing was that second place belonged to Series leader Brent Foster.  Had Brent taken the opportunity to further improve his already excellent swimming over the six week break?  Time will tell but now back to the race.  Next from the water was a loose pack of top swimmers including Tim Fitzsimmons, Jan Steenkamp, Nathan Richmond, Bryan Rhodes, Malcolm McGregor, Charles Wentworth and Will Green.  Renowned runners Rodney Gordon and Paul Duffy would be attempting to make a move during the 3 kilometre out and back run.  Is Brent Foster New Zealand`s fittest man?  After his performance in this event and in the Series over recent years he is certainly attracting votes from a number of notable observers.  So Brent runs through and takes out his second race of the season.  The victor from Race #1, Nathan Richmond picks up valuable points in second, just holding out Bryan Rhodes.  These distances must be to Trent Bray’s liking as he records his top finish of the season holding onto fourth ahead Malcolm McGregor.