Dowling (29), a champion of the two-day course in 2014, and a bronze medallist in her second attempt in the longest day section last year, will once again line up on Kumara Beach in the pre-dawn hours on Saturday, February 10, to contest the Longest Day open women’s title for a third consecutive year.
After tasting success in the two-day event three years ago, the Alexandra physiotherapist was bitten by New Zealand’s premier multisport race. Returning for her first crack at the longest day title in 2015, she took on a high quality field and finished a credible seventh in 14hr 52min 46sec. She returned for a second crack last year to finish third behind Elina Ussher and French international Myriam Guillet-Boisset in 14hr 14min 55sec.
Dowling goes into this year’s longest day section of the iconic event, confirmed among the leading contenders with Ussher, Corrinne Smit, South African champion Robyn Owen, and New Zealand representative triathlon converts Hannah Wells and Sarah Bryant, of Dunedin.
But getting to the start this year has not been without difficulty, as with most athletes there is always a series of niggles to wonder about, none more so than a broken wrist she suffered last June that kept her out of the kayak over the winter months. The unseasonal summer conditions have limited her time on the water of late.
Dowling, like most other athletes on the day, will no doubt be wondering if she has done enough as she lines up on Kumara Beach. But once the horn signals the start she is under no illusion as to what lies ahead.
"I’ll just get stuck in. It will be too late to worry about anything then," she said.
But while Dowling will be hammering it out for overall honours in the women’s section, attention will also be turned to the progress of Alexandra athlete Murray Booth (54) in the 50-plus classic men’s grade.
Booth, an orchard manager, admits to being a late arrival into multisport, but made the best possible entry into the great race two years ago when he finished third in the classic men’s grade in the associated two-day event, clocking an impressive 14hr 43min 42sec for the 243km journey between Kumara Beach on the West Coast to New Brighton Beach on the east.
The grade was dominated by Canterbury’s Steve Garrett, who won the classic title in 14hr 36min 40sec, but the battle behind him, between Booth and fellow Cantabrian Stephen John, had Garrett constantly looking over his shoulder.
Booth has had two years in which to reflect on what may have been in 2015 and is determined to give the course everything, having taken in advice handed on from Dowling and Bill Godsall, who put him through his grade-two kayaking drills two years ago.
"I’ll be out to perform and do well," he said.
"You never know how strong you really are until being strong is the only choice you have.
"For me the longest day is the ultimate test."
He was inspired to contest the event when his daughter Ashley raced the two-day event in 2011, for which Booth acted as a member of her support crew.
"I looked around and thought well these are just ordinary people just like me, so why not give it a go."
But for Booth contesting the longest day in two weeks’ time will be more about lining up at the start and being inspired with the presence of three-time champion Braden Currie, defending champion Sam Clark, Australian Alex Hunt and Australian Olympic triathlete Courtney Atkinson, and Whakatane’s Daniel Jones, who are all expected to keenly contest the coveted title.
Booth will be supported around the course by fellow Alexandra locals Gerard Mulvey, who crewed for him two years ago, bike mechanic Ross Hay, and Reg Walker, who will attend to all Booth’s running and kayaking details.
The two-day event begins on Kumara Beach at 7am on Friday, February 10, while the premier event — the longest day — begins on Kumara Beach at 6am on Saturday, February 11.
