My Sport comes alive in Takapuna

The second round of the Contact Energy My Sport Triathlon Series saw great racing in front of good enthusiastic crowds in Takapuna yesterday with two promising young athletes grabbing the limelight.

With the help of North Shore City Council the Tri NZ event took place on closed roads in the heart of Takapuna's cafe and restaurant district, with the finish line immediately outside the Belgian Beer Café ASICS recovery zone a popular gathering point for spectators as the elite races got underway in the early evening.

The women's event proved a benefit race for Nicky Samuels. The Whangarei athlete showed the class that delivered a first ITU BG World Cup podium this season in blitzing a strong field of up and comers. Samuels simply rode away from the rest on the bike, despite the race being draft legal and a chasing pack of five hunting her down. The winning margin of 1 minute 53 seconds was just reward for an impressive race.

Samuels was delighted but suggested she was only just getting back into her work.

"My long term focus is on Mooloolaba in March next year and qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. The competition to earn that third spot is so tough though but that is the goal at the moment. Today was a real buzz with great spectator support and despite my earlier misgivings about how tight the bike would be, it proved to be a superb and safe course."

Second was Rotorua (first round) winner Katherine Anton, her points for second place will extend her lead at the top of the Contact Energy Cup standings while third went to Carmel Hanley.

The men's race dished up one of the great triathlon spectacles seen in New Zealand with the tight and technical ten lap bike course serving up a treat for the estimated two thousand spectators who lined the Takapuna CBD. Despite his best efforts to break away, defending Contact Energy Cup champion Stephen Sheldrake soon had 7 or 8 riders for company in a superbly quick 16km bike ride.

Eventually it was Callum Millward who did pick up a lead of 150 metres leading into transition, hoping he could hold on during the 4km run. he couldn't as he was passed by a hard charging trio of Tristan Calwell, Martin Van Barneveld and Tony Dodds. The pace was hot and the legs were screaming, so too the supporters as it came down to a spring finish. Calwell held on from Van Barneveld and Dodds, all three within 14 seconds of each other.

Calwell expected the race to be close.

"Given the course and the quality of the field this was always going to be close, i'm just thrilled to come out on top. The bike was pretty intense with a few words shared along the way but it was a great, hard race and sets up the series nicely."

Earlier in the day age group races were eagerly contested by a mix of New Zealand age group representatives, experienced athletes and novice competitors giving the sport a go for the first time. All races were completed without incident and again were well received by all as Takapuna turned it's CBD into triathlon city for a day.

Next up for the Contact Energy My Sport Series is Whangamata on January 12th. All details can be found at www.triathlon.org.nz  



Contact Energy Cup Elite Women

1. Nicky Samuels 52.18

2. Katherine Anton 54.11

3. Carmel Hanley 54.41



Contact Energy Cup Elite Men

1. Tristan Calwell 47.35

2. Martin van Barneveld 47.44

3. Tony Dodds 47.49