Dominant wins from blueseventy athletes in Kinloch

If you want to plan an outside event and be sure of a stinking hot day, then you need to book it for Waitangi weekend in the small holiday township of Kinloch, NZ. Just don’t forget to take your sunscreen.

Every year this event gets fantastic weather, maybe even a little too good with temps in the mid to high 30’s (90F +), meaning a very hot day of racing for athletes, volunteers and supporters. Despite layering up the sunscreen, it was fair to say there were a few people sporting some sunburn by the end of the day. Including us.

This event offers everything from a 1:2:1 for the kids (100m swim, 2km bike, 1km run) through to the Oceania ITU Sprint Champs, and also the Erin Baker Standard Distance tri. Individual or team, there’s a race for every age and ability, and with over 700 people participating, it looks like plenty took up the challenge!

It’s the first year the event has included an ITU points race, which went down well with plenty of elite athletes who have the upcoming World Series and Olympic slots top of mind. It was also a great opportunity for U19 and U23 athletes to get crucial points to qualify for bigger races later in the season.

In the mens race, the 750m swim saw the men exit in one long pack, led by James Elvery. The group did split with those showing sharp transition skills and the lungs to hammer the hill out from transition creating a lead pack of eight, including blueseventy athletes Tony Dodds, Ryan Sissons and Aaron Barclay from New Zealand, Australians Brendan Sexton and Jamie Huggett, and Austrian Andreas Giglmayr.

On the run it was Tony Dodds who had the kick to run clear of the group, but he had to fight it out with Sexton until he found an extra gear with1500m to go, and ran clear for the win.

In the womens race it appeared to be NZ v Holland with so many girls in orange on the start line. The team is based in NZ for training over summer and made the trip up for some early season ITU points. But sadly for them it was clear from the start that no one would catch Nicky Samuels, who again dominated the bike and put a gap on the field after the first lap that would never be decreased, allowing her to cruise home on the run. At race briefing Nicky said she was feeling a little flat – so we can’t wait to see what she pulls out on a good day!

Next up is the Contact Cup race in Takapuna which is always a fantastic race in front of deep crowds packed into the bars to watch the criterion style event in the North Shore of Auckland.

ITU Oceania Sprint Cup (also New Zealand Sprint Championship)
750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
Men
1 Tony Dodds Wanaka 1:00:16
2 Brendan Sexton Australia 1:00:28
3 Jamie Huggett Australia 1:00:32
4 Andreas Giglmayr Austria 1:00:37
5 Aaron Royle Australia 1:00:48

Women
1 Nicky Samuels Wanaka 1:06:59
2 Neiske Becks Holland 1:07:59
3 Maaike Caelers Holland 1:08:02
4 Lisa Mensink Holland 1:08:18
5 Rebecca Kingsford Tirau 1:08:39