Multisport

Elena Ussher's victory in the women's section of the Coast to Coast secured a first for the 30 year-old event, the first husband-and-wife combination to win the titles in the same year.

Richard Ussher described his fifth Longest Day victory in the Coast to Coast as his "smartest race".

There were high fives all round for winners of the two-day team section of the Coast to Coast on Saturday.

Richard and Elena Ussher have become the first married couple to win their sections of the longest day in the Coast to Coast.

Nathan Bell (Fairlie) made the most of his opportunities but paid the price with tired legs and a few spills on the descent from Goat Pass on the first day of the men's two-day Coast to Coast race yesterday.

With thoughts of Patagonia on his mind, Trevor Voyce, of Nelson, pulled out of the Longest Day Speight's Coast to Coast title, but blitzed the field on the first day of the two-day team section with Australian Matt Blundell.

It's all on for young and old for individual honours when the two-day section of the Coast to Coast resumes from Klondyke Corner tomorrow.

Failure is not an option for Shannon Edgar in the Coast to Coast starting today. Edgar, (18) provided one of the dramatic storylines of last year's event when she was airlifted from the course with a suspected broken ankle.

What does not kill only makes you stronger, will be an adage Dougal Allan takes on board when he lines up as one of the favourites for the Longest Day title of the Coast to Coast tomorrow.

There are many Coast to Coast greats - and Wanaka physiotherapist Ginny Rutledge is one of them.