Motatapu event draws good and great

A member of Parliament and two Olympians will be competing with 3000 other competitors in the fifth Motatapu Icebreaker on March 14.

Minister of Finance and Clutha-Southland MP Bill English, rowing gold medallist Caroline Evers-Swindell and Olympic mountain biker Kashi Leuchs will be on the start line at Wanaka, ready to tackle the 50km mountain biking and parallel marathon events next weekend.

This year's event has attracted cyclists and runners from across New Zealand and a growing number of international competitors, from Australia to Ethiopia.

The race sold out its mountain bike field in record time in November and the marathon field has grown from 600 in 2008 to 700 this year.

While the mountain bike records may be broken as Leuchs takes on four-time winner and course record holder Marcus Roy, Mr English is aiming for a less spectacular but none-the-less solid performance.

"It's a real bonus for me to take part in this successful event," he said.

"I've been training hard in the hills around Wellington, but we'll have to wait and see whether that translates into a credible performance on the day.

"I'm not too competitive - but I don't want to come last."

Another first-time entrant, Evers-Swindell, said the Motatapu would be her first marathon event but admitted she had mixed feelings about the prospect.

"On the one hand, I'm a bit scared. After all, I'm built for rowing not running, really.

"But I'm also inspired.

"I love the simplicity [of running] and I'm hoping the scenery will distract me," she said.

At the competitive end of the marathon, 38-year-old Christchurch teacher and Kepler Challenge record holder Phil Costley will challenge previous Motatapu race winner John Winsbury, of Australia.

"I see Phil as my main competition," Winsbury said.

"He has those off-road credentials which are vital for this course.

"Certainly I can think of no other off-road marathon that has over 20 river crossings."

The Anzac duo will be joined by international wildcard entrant Fantaw Hussen, of Ethiopia, who ran a 2hr 11min marathon in 2008.

Competitors will be lining up at the start of the race in Wanaka for various reasons - including Canterbury cyclists David Jones and Baden Ewart, who are raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation - but Mr English had his own unique perspective on the race.

"The Motatapu Icebreaker is set in one of the most scenic corners of New Zealand and - at least for a few hours - I won't be thinking about the budget," Mr English said.

The 2009 Motatapu Icebreaker begins at the Glendhu Bay motor camp near Wanaka and finishes in Arrowtown.