Action from Challenge Wanaka

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Sun, 18 Jan 2009
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Garth Barfoot (72) was first in the water at 6.30am to check the temperature before the 7am race start. Individual competitors wade into Lake Wanaka before the start. Children from the Mckie, Tothill and McQueen families bang pots in Hawea as Mark Hinter from Great Britian cycles past. Simon Cochrane, New Zealand, cycles into Hawea Flat. Seed-heads bow as Caro Gates, New Zealand, battles a strong headwind. Woman's winner, Gina Ferguson. Gina Ferguson summits the Gun Road hill at Albert Town, which reduced many other runners to a walk. Aid station volunteers on Aubrey Rd entertain themselves between serving competitors. Men's winner, Chris McDonald, Australia, applies a cooling sponge during the run. Morne Pienaar, of South Africa, cools off. Chris McDonald, of Australia, wins Challenge Wanaka in a race record time. Open team competitor, Josh Adam, battles a head wind near Hawea Flat. John Gordon, of Wanaka, summits Gun road above Albert Town. Sparklers light the way at 5 to midnight as the oldest team, The Septuagenarians of Ray Bennet, Stan Gawler and Anthony Sepie cross the finish line. Garth Barfoot completed his 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle and a 42km run in 17:26:07 to be the last athlete to cross the finish line, well after midnight.
 

More action from the Challenge Wanaka multisport event. Photos by Stephen Jaquiery; prints available for purchase from Otago Images.

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