Dutch triathlete Els Visser shook off the disappointment of last year’s second placing to win Challenge Wanaka on Saturday.
Knowing she had some work to do after the swim, Visser powered ahead in the bike leg to take the lead and settled into her own pace.
Visser crossed the finish line with a time of 4hr 34min 46sec. followed by Clarke with a time of 4hr 43min 29sec, while Laura Siddall clinched the third spot in 4hr 44min 22sec.
Securing the win was an "incredible feeling" after last year, Visser said.
"I raced here last year and finished second, so I had some work to do this year, and yeah, super pleased to take the win this year.
"It was definitely a competitive field and Rebecca (Clarke), she’s an incredible swimmer, so I knew that I definitely had some work to do after the swim, but in the end I can just control my own race, focus on my myself and that's what I did."
"She’s an incredible athlete, an incredible personality and ... just so grateful I can race out on course, so she was on my mind a lot today — this victory’s for her", Visser said.
The win comes off the back of a third placing in Challenge London and victory in Challenge Canberra last year — and serves as a warm-up to Ironman New Zealand in two weeks’ time.
"So definitely need some recovery in the next few days and then focus on the next big race in two weeks", she said.
Leading the pack right from the swim, Smith continued to extend his lead during the bike leg, ultimately crossing the finish line in 3hr 53min 8sec.
Mike Phillips claimed second with a time of 3hr 58min 11sec, while defending champion Jack Moody secured the third in 4hr 21sec.
Smith said it was his best performance in about three years.
"Everything went perfectly — you get one of these days every once in a blue moon", Smith said.
"It’s a funny one when you have a day like today, sort of you feel quite smooth and it comes relatively easy, so it was one of those magical days."
Holding the lead from the start was challenging, as he did not know how far away his competitors were, Smith said.
"Just out the front is how I like to race — it’s definitely a tough way to race when you don’t know where you are. I didn’t know if I had 30 seconds or five minutes, but you’ve just got to keep the hammer down and the power was coming."
