Curtayne and Samuels win in Whangamata

Perfect conditions greeted competitors in the Contact Tri Series race at Whangamata today, with flat surf, warm temperatures and a light breeze the order of the day for the second event in the nationwide Contact Tri Series.

The men’s race boasted a top quality field to match and it was the familiar figure of Brent Foster who led them out of the swim, the former Aquathlon world champion catching waves expertly to lead by 33 seconds from twin brothers Andrew and William Curtayne.

Pre race favourites Stephen Sheldrake, Martin van Barneveld and Cameron Brown emerged in touch, with Brown in tenth one and a half minutes behind Foster.

And it didn’t take long for Brown to get into his work, the 7 times Ironman NZ Champion moved smoothly into the lead midway through the bike, taking defending series champion Sheldrake (Gisborne) with him with William Curtayne staying in touch in third.

They stayed that way for the entire ride back into Whangamata, entering transition side by side by side. Brown and Curtayne headed out shoulder to shoulder on the run with Sheldrake ten metres behind.

One lap into the three lap run and it was still Brown with Curtayne stalking the 36 year old every step of the way with Sheldrake having slowly dropped off the pace in third.

On the final lap it was the younger and quicker legs of Curtayne that won the day as he broke away to win by 8 seconds.

22 year old William Curtayne was delighted with his race.

“I was so pleased with my bike today, the plan was to stay with whoever went past me on the bike and stay in contact through to the run. To stay in touch with two class guys like Cam and Stephen on the bike was great. I struggled a couple of times on the flat but thankfully there were some hills that allowed me to close up each time.

“I headed out on to the run looking to pace off Cam until the last lap and do what I could to get away, back my speed over his endurance. At the start of the sand on the last lap I had a crack and managed to hold the lead, I’m delighted.”

There was some irony in Curtayne’s post race comments too; given the man he beat today.

“I remember being inspired by Cam Brown when he came to speak at my school when I was younger so it was great to race alongside him today.”

Curtayne will compete throughout the Contact Tri Series this summer and aim to qualify for the NZ U23 team to the World Championships later in the year.

Brown was pleased with his work out as he continues his preparation for the 25th anniversary of Ironman NZ in March. The 36 year old is almost a local, having stepped out the back door of the family holiday home to race today.

“That was a good solid workout for me today. I have had a few issues since Hawaii and had an Achilles injury so to run nice and smooth today was great.

”It is superb to see someone like William win today too, and to be fair it should be happening. William is just one of a number of class young athletes coming through, it is good to see the sport in good hands for the future. I heard him comment about me coming to his school and that is kind of cool. I was similarly inspired by the likes of Rick Wells making the same sort of visit to me when I was younger so it is nice to be on the other side of that equation for the younger athletes coming through.”

Brown will now head to Tauranga for next Saturday’s Port of Tauranga Half Ironman before completing his preparation for Taupo in March.

Third was William’s twin Andrew, making it a Curtayne family affair on the podium.

In the women’s race it was Whangarei teenager Simone Ackerman who led world number 33 Nicky Samuels out of the water with Auckland’s Jacqui Seebold in close attendance in third.

As expected though it was Samuels who took control of the race early in the bike. The Wanaka based athlete moving to a lead that she would only extend throughout the remainder of the race, winning by a commanding margin over Sarah Bryant from Dunedin.

It was a welcome return to the winners circle for Samuels after a frustrating year ruined in part by injury last year.

“Today was great, albeit a little tougher than I thought it might be. I haven’t done much swimming as yet so I struggled a little in the water and the bike was a tough ride so early in the year. And I didn’t know the run had changed so to find myself running on the beach made it even tougher!”

Joking aside, Samuels was pleased with her workout.

“But I am pleased with the day and to be back racing again, it is nice to start the season on a winning note and defend my title from last year. I’m training through these domestic races with an eye to bigger races overseas later in the year but this was fun and a nice day.”

Also on the schedule today was the Contact 3:9:3 race for novice or beginner athletes with a great turnout of athletes of all backgrounds, ages and sizes.

Incredibly one family was represented across the day by no less than 11 of its members. Led by ‘Pop’ Peter (77), various members of the Ewart clan raced in the Contact Trophy race, teams race, Contact 3:9:3 and Contact 1:2:1 for children.

Nicky Smith (daughter of Peter) spoke on behalf of the family and explained such a strong presence.

“We have been coming to Whangamata for 35 years and mum and dad live here now so it is very much a second home. We are something of a sporty family and my sister Christine (also lives in Whangamata) didn’t need to work too hard to convince us all to enter; we thought what a great way to do something together as a family.

“It is a great way for the kids to get out and get fit and also experience the feeling of competing alongside other people. It is a first for ‘Pop’ though, he has never done anything like this before but he is reasonably fit and we talked him into running in a team.

“It is just such a buzz for us all thought to have 3 generations of the family all competing in some way shape or form today.”

Peter (Pop) Ewart 77 team bike

Rick Ewart (Peter’s son) 43 team run

Chris Ewart (grandson) 9 team swim / Contact 1:2:1

Nicky Smith (nee Ewart – Peter’s daughter) team swim

Tony Smith (Nicky’s husband) team bike

Helen Hicks (Rick’s wife) team run

Christine Grahame (nee Ewart – Peter’s daughter) Contact Trophy race

Ben Ewart (grandson) 7 Contact 1:2:1

Declan Smith (grandson) 8 Contact 1:2:1

Caleb Smith (grandson) 9 Contact 1:2:1

Jacob Khan (grandson) 10 Contact 1:2:1

Contact Tri Series Whangamata

Contact Trophy Race

Men

1 William Curtayne Auckland 2:00:15

2 Cameron Brown Auckland 2:00:23

3 Andrew Curtayne Auckland 2:02:50

4 Martin van Barneveld Wellington 2:04:24

5 Stephen Sheldrake Gisborne 2:04:51

Women

1 Nicky Samuels Wanaka 2:13:09

2 Sarah Bryant Dunedin 2:23:29

3 Jacqui Seebold Auckland 2:24:45

4 Marina Fowell Whakatane 2:26:03

5 Tracey Steens Tauranga 2:29:41

Full results available at www.triathlon.org.nz later today.