Some of the country’s top multisport athletes mixed it with weekend warriors at Sunday’s Kayak HQ Multisport Triathlon, organised by the Nelson Triathlon Club at Greenslade Park on the inlet at Rabbit Island.
Cameron Jones led the way on the run to the kayaks, but once on the water Dan Busch took the lead on the 8km paddle over a two-loop course up the Waimea River.
Jones clawed back some of the deficit on the 17km road bike course, but Busch held on, increasing his lead slightly over the 3.4km run to win by five minutes.
Frances Riley was quickest in the women’s field.
In the meantime, non-paddlers fought out a run-bike-run duathlon.
Newcomer Pete Marshall was fast out of the blocks over the opening 3.4km run, but Jon Linyard soon asserted himself, stretching out his lead over the 17km bike and final 3.4km run to win by three minutes from Roydon Hawkes.
Carol Cooper had caught Marshall on the bike ride and the pair went into the final run close together. Fighting hard, Marshall just took third place overall, with Cooper hot on his heels to take the top women’s spot.
An enthusiastic throng of competitors also competed over more recreational short events in both multisport and duathlon.
The club now turns its attention to the Port Nelson Swim Series, starting November 8 and the Chia Super Sprint Triathlon on November 18.
Full details and race results at nelsontriclub.co.nz.
