Triathlon: Carter makes most of ideal conditions down the bay

Guy Carter
Guy Carter
Otago duathlon champion Guy Carter made the most of a final hit-out in triathlon before he embarks on the Pro-cycling Tour of Manawatu next week.

Carter (27), a Dunedin accountant, was one of a large contingent of athletes taking part in a Dunedin Triathlon and Multisport Club organised ''Festival of Triathlon'' at Macandrew Bay yesterday.

He took to triathlon and ironman three years ago, but has decided to return to his cycling roots and take up an offer to join pro-cycling team L. and M. Mining.

Opting for the standard course incorporating a 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run, Carter made the most of the ideal conditions, setting the pace to hold a narrow lead over New Zealand ironman representative Glen McSkimming at the halfway stage.

McSkimming pulled back the deficit to hold a 10sec lead on Carter at the transition to the biking stage. Carter opened up a 48sec lead at the 20km stage, then stretched it out to a 2min lead at the transition to the run.

A strong run then saw Carter break the tape in 2hr 11min 25sec, with McSkimming running on for second in 2hr 14min 3sec, and Matt Sumner hot on his heels in 2hr 14min 15sec.

''I'm in the team now,'' Carter said of his switch to pro cycling after yesterday's triathlon victory.

''The focus now will be on training and making it into the Tour of Southland. It's just a matter of getting all the ducks lined up.''

For McSkimming, the race proved to be something of a comeback, after he spent the best part of a month in hospital last year with a bacterial blood infection.

''I almost threw it all away,'' McSkimming said. ''But two weeks ago I got the bug to enter Challenge Wanaka. It will be a scary monster on just seven weeks' training.''

McSkimming has an impressive ironman CV. A New Zealand representative, he finished midfield in Hawaii in 2009, has contested the New Zealand title six times with a best result of fourth, and in Challenge Wanaka was first in his 30-39 age group in 2008. He has twice since been second in the age group.

Steven Morrison jun dominated the sprint distance course over the 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run, stopping the clock at 1hr 5min 15sec. Anna Lindsay won a closely contested women's section in 1hr 16min 27sec.

Paul Gough won an associated duathlon over a 25km, 20km bike and 5km run course in 1hr 4min 5sec. Audrey Pierce was the best in the women's field in 1hr 26min 53sec.

Dean Pierce won the multisport section, which involved a 1500m swim, 22km mountain bike and a 10km run.

Youth had it over age in a father and son battle for honours in a 1500m swim. George Gray (15) won in 21min 37sec, 21sec clear of his father, Murray, with 2013 Otago triathlon champion Geoff Williamson third in 22min 18sec.

 

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