A chilly start to racing did not deter eventual individual winner Dougal Allan, of Wanaka, who, after claiming second in the Coast to Coast race in mid-February, romped home to win the triathlon.
Allan could be bested around the course only by the team winners - highly ranked NZ triathlon team member James Elvery and Subway Pro Cycling team rider Sam Horgan, both of Christchurch.
The pair combined to claim the teams event after they were forced to relocate from their Christchurch homes after the earthquake two weeks ago.
Elvery, among a group of rising New Zealand triathletes to base themselves in Wanaka during the aftermath of the quake, helped organise a fun-run charity event on Friday evening to benefit recovery efforts in Christchurch.
About $1500 was raised at the 4km distance gathering at Pembroke Park attended by about 200 people, Elvery said.
Swimmers preparing for yesterday's triathlon - held as the final event in the Summer Send Off Series festival - were greeted yesterday morning by snow-covered mountains ringing a chilly Lake Wanaka.
A southerly front brought frigid temperatures to Central Otago on Saturday night and chilled the water in the lake to about 14degC - 4degC colder than normal, while the air temperature was a nippy 3degC.
Summer Send Off director Matt Tuck said the series was destined to become an annual contest, but would probably be shifted forward a week to avoid scheduling clashes with other major events in the Queenstown Lakes district.
