World number two and Olympic Games bronze medallist Bevan
Docherty headlines the triathletes turning out in the latest
round of the national triathlon series in Kinloch on the
shores of Lake Taupo on Sunday.
The round doubles as the New Zealand sprint championships.
While Docherty is training through the summer racing season,
he always looks forward to racing well in his home town of
Taupo.
"It is always great to race at home and I will be looking to
perform as well as I can in front of people who don't get too
many chances to watch me in race mode."
Docherty also suggests that some of the younger New Zealand
athletes might be eyeing up a chance to take out a big name
along with a national title.
"This is a chance for some of the younger guys to take on the
likes of me and Kris (Gemmell) in these races at home and
given my training programme and focus on the world
championship series this year, their timing might be good.
"There has certainly been some good trash talk on Facebook of
late, but we'll see what happens on Sunday."
The field contains the next tier of triathlon talent in New
Zealand behind Docherty and Gemmell and include last year's
winner Clark Ellice, Tony Dodds, Callum Millward, Graham
O'Grady and Martin van Barneveld.
Reigning national series champion Stephen Sheldrake will also
line up.
International flavour is provided by Frenchman Laurent Vidal,
the partner of New Zealand triathlete Andrea Hewitt.
Vidal was in superb form last year with five top 10 World Cup
finishes to his name which helped gain him a world ranking of
11.
The women's race shapes up as an intriguing battle with Nicky
Samuels looking to continue her perfect summer so far in the
series.
Her main competition will come from world No 8 Debbie Tanner,
Luxembourg's No 13 Elizabeth May and former mountain running
world champion Kate McIlroy who looks to continue her
apprenticeship in her new sport.
NZPA WGT pm nb
Source: NZPA Wgtn
Credit: NZPA #422
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