Triathlon

Despite his handlebars breaking near the start of the bike leg, Australia's Aaron Farlow came through a strong field to win the sixth Challenge Wanaka long-distance triathlon on Saturday.

Australia's Aaron Farlow beat defending champion Jamie Whyte of Auckland to win the sixth edition of the long-course Challenge Wanaka triathlon today.

New Zealand triathlete Tony Dodds wants to attract more world-class international triathletes to Wanaka for the elite leg of the Contact Tri Series on January 20.

Hamish Hammond pipped veteran Stephen Sheldrake within 2m of the finish line to win the Contact Tri Series in wet and cool conditions in Whangamata today after Sheldrake crashed to the ground just short of the line, taking second.

Six months ago, Olympic hopeful Nicky Samuels (28), of Wanaka, took a calculated risk to take a quick break in her triathlon programme and return to New Zealand for heart surgery to correct arrhythmia. It didn't work. Now, as the clock ticks down to the final Olympic qualifying race in Sydney next April, Samuels is lining up for more surgery. Marjorie Cook reports.

Bevan Docherty is operating on the assumption he will be competing in London and going for a full set of Olympic medals.

For Nicky Samuels, the ITU world cup triathlon race in Auckland on Sunday has not come at the best of times.

Wanaka triathlete Tony Dodds (24) has traded his customary summer of fun for some extra hard slog as he prepares to qualify for next year's Olympic Games in London.

Wanaka triathlon supporters intend to offer a $10,000 first prize to the male winner of the Contact Cup race on January 20, in what Triathlon New Zealand officials believe would be the largest first prize in this country for a short-course event.

ROTORUA: Callum Millward went back-to-back in Rotorua and Nicky Samuels won on her first appearance at the first round of the Contact Triathlon Series at Blue Lake on Saturday.