More podiums for NZers at world champs but weather wins the day

The Triathlon World Championships in Vancouver were thrown into turmoil this morning with high winds and cold temperatures forcing organizers to cancel the swim leg for most of the age group races, turning the event into a duathlon.

 

The fortunate ones were the women aged 18 to 49 who got to complete a full triathlon with the swim included. But at around the time the 30 to 34 women’s wave was starting the weather changed. High winds came up, the sea got choppy and officials were struggling to keep athletes on course.

 

Racing continued for about another half an hour with the 45 to 49 years women being the last group to swim before officials halted proceedings. Athletes were commenting on how tough it was to stay on course and above water.

 

Officials delayed racing for about an hour, hoping for an improvement. But the weather did not play its part. Lifeguards couldn’t stay out, boats were swamped and no guards on the water meant no swimming.

 

At this point officials came in to the athlete lounge area and advised of change to duathlon for everyone from 50 years women up and all men races. The duathlon involved a 3km run instead of the swim, then the normal bike and run course as planned.

 

New Zealand team manager Claire Attwood said it was a tough day and a long way to come for a duathlon.

 

“It was not quite as cold as yesterday and eventually sun came out, but high winds caused havoc and the officials really had no choice. Most of our team are seeing the funny side of a pretty tough situation. Some of them have never done a duathlon in their lives and they train and save to come all the way to Vancouver to race their first one!

 

“Once again though the athletes have done us proud in the way they have handled conditions and the change to the racing programme. We have enjoyed some great results in very tough conditions and all our athletes have represented Tri NZ and the country with distinction.”

 

Highlights on a tough day included gold and silver for Lynne Pattle and Julie Wagner in the women’s 55 to 59 race, gold for Peter Wood in the 65 to 69 men and podium finishes for John Hellemens 55 to 59 men, Alec Hill 75 to 79 men, Michael Gowing 50 to 54 men.

 

World Triathlon Championships, Vancouver

Age Group Olympic Distance

NZ Results (provisional results at this stage)

*denotes duathlon

 

18 – 19 Women

2
207
Tracey STEENS
New Zealand
2:07:33.86
+3:43.44

9
208
Anna FUHRER
New Zealand
2:25:57.76
+22:07.34
 

20 to24 Women

6
277
Hayley ANDERSON
New Zealand
2:08:07.54
+11:21.46

14
276
Nicola GRAY
New Zealand
2:11:02.94
+14:16.86

26
237
Laura SMIT
New Zealand
2:16:17.43
+19:31.35

50
235
Alexandria GIBSON
New Zealand
2:24:51.68
+28:05.60
 

25 to 29 Women

4
338
Naomi FERGUSSON
New Zealand
2:04:13.50
+3:58.90

35
352
Kerri NEYLON
New Zealand
2:14:02.67
+13:48.07

38
362
Erin O'HARA
New Zealand
2:14:17.38
+14:02.78

40
370
Fiona EAGLES
New Zealand
2:14:36.59
+14:21.99

53
368
Annabel RAMSAY
New Zealand
2:16:36.34
+16:21.74

65
325
Nicola DE LAUTOUR
New Zealand
2:22:17.99
+22:03.39

70
346
Phillippa JENSEN
New Zealand
2:23:37.69
+23:23.09
 

30 to 34 Women

4
450
Janine SAX
New Zealand
2:06:32.07
+8:40.41

11
484
Jacinda PAPPS
New Zealand
2:09:25.10
+11:33.44

17
432
Kelley TOY
New Zealand
2:11:46.72
+13:55.06

21
464
Heather PEAL
New Zealand
2:13:03.39
+15:11.73

42
463
Laurance GAY
New Zealand
2:20:05.28
+22:13.62

76
446
Lidia BELLES-ESCRIG
New Zealand
2:34:55.92
+37:04.26
 

*30 to 34 Men

24
1858
Donald PATTERSON
New Zealand
1:45:01.30
+13:13.78

42
1848
Philip KING
New Zealand
1:48:54.67
+17:07.15
 

35 to 39 Women

16
542
Jane FOX
New Zealand
2:15:19.71
+19:03.76

33
568
Sharon SPROULE
New Zealand
2:21:25.65
+25:09.70

36
551
Philippa PARKIN
New Zealand
2:22:07.05
+25:51.10

47
576
Tamsin GALLIE
New Zealand
2:26:09.34
+29:53.39

61
563
Kathrine HILTON
New Zealand
2:31:29.76
+35:13.81
 

*35 to 39 Men

16
1971
Greg O'CONNOR
New Zealand
1:45:07.21
+7:06.38

18
1914
Andrew ABAKHAN
New Zealand
1:45:25.90
+7:25.07

32
1953
Matthew BERG
New Zealand
1:47:54.13
+9:53.30

74
1955
Warren ANDERSON
New Zealand
1:58:22.53
+20:21.70

82
1981
Craig MOORE
New Zealand
2:00:26.44
+22:25.61
 

40 to 44 Women

36
634
Karen BLACKWOOD
New Zealand
2:27:20.31
+19:23.27

48
652
Jane LOUGHNAN
New Zealand
2:32:26.68
+24:29.64

50
607
Jane HEATHER-SCLATER
New Zealand
2:34:12.48
+26:15.44

60
645
Lisa KABOT
New Zealand
2:43:19.37
+35:22.33

62
640
Amy WHITE
New Zealand
2:46:05.41
+38:08.37
 

*40 to 44 Men

31
2020
Steve DEAN
New Zealand
1:51:23.29
+18:19.08

41
2003
Mike WREN
New Zealand
1:53:02.04
+19:57.83

64
2070
James BELL
New Zealand
1:57:32.16
+24:27.95

65
2101
Stephen COLPITTS
New Zealand
1:57:34.39
+24:30.18

66
656
Robert JORDAN
New Zealand
1:58:24.25
+25:20.04

67
2048
Roger SLATER
New Zealand
1:59:16.31
+26:12.10

85
2081
Nicholas VAUGHAN
New Zealand
2:09:22.44
+36:18.23
 

45 to 49 Women

13
771
Josie SINCLAIR
New Zealand
2:18:07.24
+14:27.87

24
734
Libby HENRIKSEN
New Zealand
2:23:37.80
+19:58.43

35
765
Ann ROBOTTOM
New Zealand
2:29:57.89
+26:18.52

46
766
Christine FRASER
New Zealand
2:37:55.43
+34:16.06
 

*45 to 49 Men

32
2225
Stephen MEALINGS
New Zealand
1:52:18.23
+10:03.76

33
2246
Neil SHEERIN
New Zealand
1:52:20.62
+10:06.15

46
2217
Jez SMEDLEY
Great Britain
1:55:44.94
+13:30.47

47
2272
James TURNER
New Zealand
1:56:01.45
+13:46.98

51
2237
Christopher TODD
New Zealand
1:56:39.33
+14:24.86

57
2039
Tim JARDINE
New Zealand
1:58:07.66
+15:53.19

64
2264
Glen TURNER
New Zealand
2:00:14.35
+17:59.88
 

*50 to 54 Men

3
1102
Michael GOWING
New Zealand
1:49:03.87
+3:37.30

7
1125
Niels MADSEN
New Zealand
1:49:54.67
+4:28.10

37
839
Pat O'CONNELL
New Zealand
2:00:20.25
+14:53.68

42
1116
William (Bill) MANNING
New Zealand
2:01:09.14
+15:42.57

50
1133
Kevin RAVEN
New Zealand
2:03:24.19
+17:57.62

65
1137
Kevin LOFT
New Zealand
2:11:37.14
+26:10.57
 

*55 to 59 Women

1
938
Lynne PATTLE
New Zealand
2:08:08.97
0.00

2
926
Julie WAGNER
New Zealand
2:09:37.46
+1:28.49
 

*55 to 59 Men

2
1243
John HELLEMANS
New Zealand
1:50:21.58
+2:17.53

12
1222
Shorty CLARK
New Zealand
1:59:43.29
+11:39.24

46
1207
Alan PATTLE
New Zealand
2:13:24.01
+25:19.96
 

*60 to 64 Women

11
953
Tiare LUND
New Zealand
2:25:12.77
+12:25.57

28
978
Ann BOULD
New Zealand
2:44:49.94
+32:02.74
 

*60 to 64 Men

14
1330
Peter GIBBS
New Zealand
2:05:45.69
+7:54.99

15
1300
Barry PAYNE
New Zealand
2:06:25.03
+8:34.33

20
1275
Donald ALLEN
New Zealand
2:09:53.09
+12:02.39

25
1331
John SKINNON
New Zealand
2:10:55.14
+13:04.44

46
1296
John EAGLES
New Zealand
2:24:57.14
+27:06.44

49
1313
Malcolm SMART
New Zealand
2:26:47.17
+28:56.47
 

*65 to 69 Men

1
1424
Peter WOOD
New Zealand
2:01:31.23
0.00

24
1438
Anthony (Tony) FANTHAM
New Zealand
2:31:29.18
+29:57.95
 

*70 to 74 Men

7
1445
Neil FLEMING
New Zealand
2:22:59.75
+14:39.12
 

*75 to 79 Men

3
1474
Alec HILL
New Zealand
2:40:00.37
+11:42.58