McLachlan, of Wanaka, was approached to contest the event as a mentor and race guide to Linwood College year 12 pupil Jarod Bradshaw (16).
``It's Jarod's first time in the event,'' McLachlan said.
``We're pretty excited about this sort of race and for me it was about helping him manage his race throughout, completing it and keeping in good spirits.''
For staying positive and in good spirits, Bradshaw could have wished for none better than McLachlan.
The pair lined up on Kumara Beach both excited about the 243km challenge that lay before them. Until recently, sport had not been part of Bradshaw's make-up.
``We did the bike together on separate bikes, the run together and a tandem kayak down the river,'' McLachlan said.
He was called in as a mentor for Bradshaw in place of Ben Isherwood, of Christchurch, who was struck down with glandular fever about six weeks ago.
Bradshaw was part of a wider group of Christchurch teenagers encouraged into sport to help them focus on a more positive side to life and to help build character.
Due to recent flooding, none of the mentored pupils was able to kayak the river section in training, but instead went down the river on rafts.
``It's all about helping them with life skills and setting them up for work opportunities.
``It's a big undertaking. I would love to give more time to this. But because I live in Wanaka it's harder for me to come up and put in time with other commitments.
``But hopefully it will be something I'll be involved with a lot more in the future, and I'll be able to manage that role a bit more.''
The pair completed the course in 17hr 43min 24sec to finish second in the tandem teams secondary schools section. And for McLachlan a silver medal for the second consecutive year.
- Wayne Parsons
