Multisport: Home-town runner grabs win but not cash

Tony Dodds, of Wanaka, enters the finishing shute to win the men's section of the Contact Tri...
Tony Dodds, of Wanaka, enters the finishing shute to win the men's section of the Contact Tri Series in Wanaka last night.
Kate McIlroy, of Wellington, celebrates back-to-back wins in the series.
Kate McIlroy, of Wellington, celebrates back-to-back wins in the series.
Last year's series winner Ryan Sissons, of Wellington, grabs his calf in obvious pains near the...
Last year's series winner Ryan Sissons, of Wellington, grabs his calf in obvious pains near the end of the cycle leg. Photos by Stephen Jaquiery.

Wanaka triathelete Tony Dodds won his home-town leg of the Contact Tri Series short-course triathalon last night but declined to take home the prize money.

Dodd's local sponsors chipped in to boost to $10,000 cash the first prize in the elite men's race, on the understanding that if Dodds won then the money would go to charity.

He was first out of the water, had a strong bike ride in the leading bunch of four and never looked back on the run home - finishing in 54min 30sec.

Second, 0.34sec behind, was Ben Phillips, of Christchurch, and third was Australian Bryce McMaster in a 55min 19sec.

The event was the fourth of seven events in the national series.

The expected duel with last year's series winner, Ryan Sissons, of Wellington, did not occur.

Sissons did not make the lead bunch on the bike ride and could not make any gains as he led the chase, eventually setting out on his own to bridge the gap.

On the last of eight laps around Wanaka's waterfront streets, the cramp he was suffering in his calf became so bad he had to stop briefly.

Although he completed the run, Sissons said afterwards he had no option but to ''cruise'' home in sixth place in the elite race.

Dodds said 2013 would be a ''huge'' year for him as he set his sights on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.

Kate McIlroy, of Wellington, secured back-to-back wins in the series finishing in 58min 5sec - 30sec ahead of Nicky Samuels, of Wanaka. Rebecca Kingsford, of Tirau was third in 58min 51sec.

During the cycle leg, the three women opened up a lead of about 3min over the rest of the small elite field.

But McIlroy dominated from the outset of the run.

McIlroy, the world No 10, also has her eye on the Glasgow Games and said afterwards she had ''unfinished business''.

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