Back row, from left: Anne Johnston, Nicki Paterson, Trudie
Marsh, Kane Johnston (10) and Tiann McKinnel (8). Front
row, from left: Brooke Johnston (8), Becky Paterson (8),
Charlie Marsh (7), Holly Paterson (9), and Molly Marsh (6).
Photo by Diane Brown.
A high flow in the Clutha River on Saturday forced the
cancellation of the triathlon section of the 24th Jimmy's
Triathlon and Treliske Organics Duathlon at Roxburgh for only
the second time in the history of the race.
The last time was 15 years ago; and on that occasion,
kayakers paddled on nearby Pinders Pond, across the river.
That could not be done this time, as the decision to cancel
on Saturday, left organisers with insufficient time to
organise a required road plan for runners to access the road
after the pond, organiser Ian Cahill said.
Contact Energy was forced to release more water than usual,
due to high flows upstream.
The Clutha River was flowing at 850cumecs.
The 9km kayaking section for competitors with a grade two
certificate is usually run when the river is flowing at
450cumecs.
The triathletes all entered the duathlon section instead.
Mr Cahill said 36 teams, and 70 individuals, slightly fewer
than last year, took part in the event; in optimum
conditions.
There was little wind, and cloud cover kept temperqtures
below the extremes of two days earlier.
Mr Cahill said the event always drew top class competitors,
although the organisers aimed to encourage family
participation as well.
Team Bubble, from Ettrick and Dunedin, competed for the
second time this year.
The youngest team member, Molly Marsh, ran with sibling
Charlie and friends Tiann McKinnel, Brooke Johnston and Becky
and Holly Paterson.
The children covered distances of between one and four
kilometres.
Kane Johnston completed the course, with his mother, Anne
Johnston, and Nicki Paterson and Trudie Marsh.
Coast to Coast two-day winner Kath Kelly was a regular
participant and although disappointed she wasn't allowed to
do the triathlon, she said she would probably kayak back down
the river to her home after the event, as she loved a
challenge.
If training allowed, she planned to attempt the the Longest
Day, the one-day Coast to Coast event, this year.
Results
Open men: Gavin Mason, Wanaka, 1hr 33min14sec, 1; Andy
Willmott, Dunedin, 1:40:52, 2; Wade Rollo, Dunedin, 1:46:33,
3.
Open women: Katie Menzies, Dunedin, 1:44:40, 1; Kath Kelly,
Roxburgh, 1:46:42, 2; Ailsa Rollinson, Dunedin, 1:49:47, 3.
Veteran men: Murray Ercy, Dunedin, 1:36:51, 1; Daryl
Cleghorn, Gore, 1:38:55, 2; Michael Lawrence, Dunedin,
1:40:05, 3.
Veteran women: Sue Cuthbert, Dunedin, 1:42:58, 1.
Men's team: Teviot, 1:25:50, 1; Crash and Dash, 1:36:02, 2;
Aitken/Barton, 1:44:24, 3.
Women's team: The Gun and the Plodder, 1.56.19, 1; Team
Bubble, 2:06:45, 2.
Mixed team: Team Lorimer, 2:10:19, 1.
Juniors: Blake Luff, 1:56:40, 1.
Junior Team: Jonty/Callum, 2:02:44, 1; Nicholl Flyers,
2:25:30, 2.
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