Race #61

Competitors in the first race of the Eta Ripples Stroke & Stride Series battled some of the roughest, toughest race conditions encountered at St Heliers Bay for many a year.  When the wind comes from the Northwest it blows straight down the Waitemata Harbour and then crashes straight into St Heliers Bay.

When this wind is around 25 knots with the odd gust of 35 knots thrown in for good measure life can be just plain miserable for those on the beach and we’re just talking about those attempting to hang banners, erect tents, set swim buoys etc.  Now if you’re planning on actually doing the race then there are a couple of factors worth considering before the start.  After swimming in that nice indoor pool all winter are you going to be able to handle the large, wind swept chop between you and the bright orange Eta Ripples buoy a couple of hundred metres off shore?  And then when you do exit those washing machine like conditions how much energy remains to tackle the first half of the five kilometre run which surprise, surprise again sees you going head on with that balmy little breeze that is certainly showing no signs of running out of puff.

The women’s field were the first away and it was the 1994 Series Champion Marisa Pentecost who took the best line back to the beach and absolutely pasted the field to lead from the water.  But a 500 metre swim isn’t long enough to break up the field to any great extent and Marisa was then followed into transition by leading contenders including Nikki Tanner, Megan Dalton, Debbie Tanner, Nicola de Lautour, Heidi Alexander and Sue Clark.  Out onto the run course and it was the current New Zealand Swim/Run Champ Heidi Alexander with the strength and leg speed to move through to the head of the field and take a comfortable 25 second victory ahead of the fast finishing Sue Clark.  Marisa Pentecost backed up her great swim with an impressive run to hold third ahead of last season’s wonder kids Debbie Tanner and Nicola de Lautour.

Five times Series Champ Brent Foster employed all his experience to lead the men’s field from the water.  Brent’s surf skills were even brought into play as he milked a small wave for the final few metres to the shore.  One athlete had managed to stay in contact with Brent during the roller coaster swim leg.  Unfortunately for Brent it was his closest challenger from recent seasons Nathan Richmond, who incidentally had just picked up the Auckland Secondary Schools Road Running title.  Ten seconds behind our dynamic duo more men emerged from the sea including Will Green (who celebrates his 15th birthday next month), Robbie Baff, Brendon Downey, Vaughan Skiffington and Olympian Mike Davidson.  The five kilometre run shuffled the pack slightly and it was Nathan Richmond who came out on top with a fine victory in the first race of the season.  Brent Foster was just ten seconds back in second.  The incredible Will Green showed plenty of maturity to hold onto third place ahead of the vastly more experienced (and older) Brendon Downey and Mike Davidson.